Copyright

Also called: author’s right

ELI5

The legal rights that control copying, sharing, adapting and using an original work.

“We own the script’s copyright, but not the music used in the teaser.”

Legal protection for qualifying original expression, not an abstract idea by itself.

Here “Copyright” means: Legal protection for qualifying original expression, not an abstract idea by itself.

You may encounter “Copyright” in rights, contracts, finance, distribution & labour conversations or materials.

Why it matters: Explains who controls, pays for, approves, exploits or bears risk around a project.

Meaning and consequences may change by contract, collective agreement, territory or law. This entry is orientation, not legal advice.

TrademarkCopyright protects original expression; trademark protects source-identifying names, symbols and brand indicators.
Idea–expression distinctionComputed from definition language and shared taxonomy. This indicates proximity, not synonymy.

When the words have to travel

Bring the script, brief or half-formed thought. We help find the shape people need to understand.

Sources & evidence · 8

Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.