Final answer:
A copyright does not protect the idea itself; it only protects the specific expression of that idea, such as the text of a book or a musical arrangement, and is true for the duration of the author's life plus 70 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a copyright does not protect the idea itself is indeed true. Copyrights provide protection for the expression of ideas, such as literary, dramatic, and musical works, but not for the ideas, procedures, processes, systems, methods of operation, concepts, principles, or discoveries themselves. For instance, while a copyright may protect the specific text of a book or the particular arrangement of a song, it does not protect the underlying plot of the story or the theme of the song about love. As such, multiple creators can produce works based around similar underlying ideas without infringing on each other's copyrights. Moreover, copyrights last for the duration of the author's life plus 70 years, granting extensive but specific protection to creators.