Final answer:
Counterfeiting refers to the unauthorized copying or production of a product, which infringes on the original creator's intellectual property rights. Copyrights and trademarks legally protect the creator's work .
Step-by-step explanation:
Counterfeiting is C) the unauthorized copying or production of a product. This act infringes upon the rights of the original creator or the trademark holder.
While copyright is a form of legal protection to prevent the unauthorized copying of original works of authorship for commercial purposes, trademarks are used in manufacturing or marketing a product that a consumer recognizes.
Moreover, copyright protection typically lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. It is essential to distinguish between copyright, which guards the form such as books and music, and trademarks.
which protect brand identifiers like logos and product names. Counterfeiting often violates both copyrights and trademarks, and it is important to adhere to these laws to respect intellectual property rights and avoid legal consequences.