Definition of Copyright

1. Noun. A document granting exclusive right to publish and sell literary or musical or artistic work.


2. Verb. Secure a copyright on a written work. "They will copyright the duet"; "Did you copyright your manuscript?"
Generic synonyms: Procure, Secure

Definition of Copyright

1. n. The right of an author or his assignee, under statute, to print and publish his literary or artistic work, exclusively of all other persons. This right may be had in maps, charts, engravings, plays, and musical compositions, as well as in books.

2. v. t. To secure a copyright on.

Definition of Copyright

1. Noun. The right by law to be the entity which determines who may publish, copy and distribute a piece of writing, music, picture or other work of authorship. ¹

2. Noun. Such an exclusive right as it pertains to one or more specific works. ¹

3. Verb. To place under a copyright. ¹

4. Verb. To obtain or secure a copyright for some literary or other artistic work. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Copyright

1. [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Copyright

1. The exclusive right, granted by law for a certain number of years, to make and dispose of copies of a literary, musical or artistic work. In the united states the copyright is granted for the life of the author plus 50 years. In the case of a joint work, it is for the life of the last joint author to die, plus 50 years. In either case the copyright runs until the end of the calendar year 50 years after the author's death. (12 Dec 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Copyright

copyleft symbols
copylefted
copylefting
copylefts
copyparties
copyparty
copypasta
copypastaed
copypastaing
copypastas
copyread
copyreader
copyreaders
copyreading
copyreads
copyright (current term)
copyright infringement
copyright infringements
copyright symbol
copyright symbols
copyrightability
copyrightable
copyrightables
copyrighted
copyrighting
copyrights
copyshop
copyshops
copyvio
copyvios

Literary usage of Copyright

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Publishers Weekly by Publishers' Board of Trade (U.S.), Book Trade Association of Philadelphia, American Book Trade Union, Am. Book Trade Association, R.R. Bowker Company (1922)
"The two copyright Office bulletins most in demand, No. 14, containing the copyright laws, and No. 15, "Rules and Regulations for the registration of claims ..."

2. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1888)
"GL MANCHESTER. have a copyright, either in the volumes of the reports or the ... Equity rule—copyright in opinions of the court, tli:—right of reporter and ..."

3. American Art Directory by R.R. Bowker Company, American Federation of Arts (1898)
"International copyright, which for more than fifty years had been the hope of the ... In that year the New copyright Law was enacted for this country, ..."

4. Cyclopaedia of Political Science, Political Economy, and of the Political by John Joseph Lalor (1883)
"The next subjects which received copyright from law, were prints and engravings. ... 38, copyright was given in the designing and printing of manufactures; ..."

5. Laws of Business for All the States and Territories of the Union and the by Theophilus Parsons (1909)
"That where the copyright proprietor has sought to comply with the provisions of this Act with respect to notice, the omission by accident or mistake of the ..."

6. Commentaries on the Laws of England by William Blackstone, William Carey Jones (1915)
"But whatever inherent copyright might have been supposed to subsist by the common law, ... 1774, it was held that no copyright subsists in authors, ..."

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