copyright meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

copyright

noun

US /ˈkɑpiˌɹaɪt/ · UK /ˈkɒpiˌɹaɪt/

Etymology From copy + right.

Usually 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.

Copyright is a separate legal area from trademarks.
One of the important points that would have to be examined in such a discussion would be how far the growth of this class has been artificially stimulated by the law of copyright.¹1949, F. A. Hayek, “The Intellectuals and Socialism”, in University of Chicago Law Review, volume 16, number 3, Chicago: University of Chicago, →DOI, page 420:

Usually Such an exclusive right as it pertains to one or more specific works.

The artist lost the copyrights to her songs when she signed the contract.
The images are still copyright of the original artist.

2 more examples

For me personally, the copyrights and "copywrongs," as I have called them, simply boil down to either one or two things, and that is it's either an act of distribution or it is an act of consumption.2005, Gerard M Stegmaier, The Digital Millennium Copyright Act: 2005 supplement:
The 1994 law in question was designed to put the United States in compliance with global treaties on intellectual property– the Berne Convention and the so-called Uruguay Round. The federal legislation created copyrights to foreign works that had not previously been covered.2012 January 18, Bill Mears, “Justices allow copyrights on foreign works”, in CNN, archived from the original on 10 Oct 2020:

Informal, Nonstandard, Usually A violation of copyright law; copyright infringement.

no copyright intended
Anyone accused of copyright would have sixty days to opt-out of the Copyright Claims Board process, in which case the plaintiff would have to seek legal action in court.2019 October 23, Christine Fisher, “House passes controversial copyright bill that could be abused by trolls”, in Engadget, archived from the original on 24 Nov 2022:

Derived terms: ad interim copyright, anticopyright, copyfighter, copyfree, copyleft, copyreich, copyrightability, copyrighter, copyright infringement, copyright laundering, copyrightless, copyright symbol, copyright trap, copyright troll, copystrike, poor man's copyright, recopyright, uncopyrightability

copyright

verb

Etymology From copy + right.

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

Every book will be copyrighted that the publisher believes will have such a market as will justify him in going to the expense of copyrighting to prevent competition from other publishers.1907, United States Congress House. Committee on Appropriations, District of Columbia Appropriations, page 253:
Further, Mr. Mullins writes FOR YOU-THE-PEOPLE, copyrighting to protect listings and to make a statement—but willingly shares his work for, after all, if it is not read then of what worth is a book?1993, Gyeorgos Ceres Hatonn, The Beast at Work, →ISBN, page 161:

4 more examples

The sealed contents inside postmarked by the United States Post office will be proof enough of exactly when your work was completed. The disadvantage to this form of copyrighting is that your work is not traceable for anyone who is interested in acquiring information regarding copyright ownership.1997, Marc Davison, All Area Access: Personal Management for Unsigned Musicians, →ISBN, page 171:
J. J. Jameson: The Green Goblin. You like that? Made it up myself. These weirdos all gotta have a name now. Hoffman! Call the patent office, copyright the name "Green Goblin". I want a quarter every time somebody says it.2002, Spider-Man (film)
When your script is completed you need to copyright it with the Library of Congress in Washington DC (you can get the forms from: Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress, Washington DC, 20559. Request form PA, or you can download them from www.loc.gov/copyright).2006, Josh Becker, Bruce Campbell, The Complete Guide to Low-Budget Feature Filmmaking, →ISBN, page 55:
Everything else that is written or created is automatically copyrighted.2008, Ann Gaines, Don't Steal Copyrighted Stuff!, →ISBN:

Informal, Nonstandard To flag for copyright violation, to copystrike.

I won’t play this track, I don’t wanna get copyrighted.

Derived terms: copyrightable
Related terms: copyfight, copyleft, copyright infringement, exclusive right, copywrong

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