Final answer:
Copyrights in the new media age are protected by state and federal laws, and significant court decisions have clarified the liabilities regarding file-sharing software. A copyright is a legal protection that applies automatically and lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the new media age of content, various measures have been established to deal with copyrights. With the advent of digital technology, it became easier to reproduce and share creative works, making it necessary for the legal system to evolve to protect these works. State and federal governments have enacted laws to protect intellectual property such as copyrights and patents. Moreover, significant court decisions like the Supreme Court ruling in MGM Studios v. Grokster (2005) have clarified the responsibilities of companies distributing file-sharing software, indicating they can be held liable if their software is used to infringe on copyright. A copyright is a legally granted right which provides authors with exclusive control over the use of their original works, including the reproduction, display, or performance of these works. Copyright protection in the United States automatically applies upon the creation of original works fixed in a tangible form of expression and typically lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.