Final answer:
A copyright is a legal right granting the creator control over the publication and distribution of their work. It provides legal protection against unauthorized copying for original authorial works and lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
A copyright is a legal right that enables the creator of an original work the right to publish, distribute, and control the use of their creation. As defined by the U.S. Copyright Office, copyright is a form of legal protection provided by the laws of the United States for 'original works of authorship' including literary, dramatic, musical, and other creative works. This protection is automatically in place from the moment the work is created and fixed in a tangible form that is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.
A copyrighted work cannot be reproduced, displayed, or performed without the author's permission. This includes preventing unauthorized copying, especially for commercial purposes. It's important to note that while copyright protects the tangible expression of an idea, it does not protect the idea itself. For example, two authors can write about the concept of love, but only the copyright holder of a specific song, such as John Legend's "All of Me," has the exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute that particular song.
Typically, copyright protection lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years, ensuring that the creative works can benefit the author and their heirs for a substantial period of time before entering the public domain.