Copyright owners, or authors, are the individuals who first create an original work in any medium that can be legally protected. Copyright is an intellectual property right that gives authors ownership over the tangible form of their work and its content, including both artistic and literary works like books, songs, films, and more.
A copyright holder has exclusive rights over how the work is reproduced and adapted. This means that no one else can legally sell, display, or perform the work without the copyright holder’s permission. The copyright owner can authorize another to perform or display the work in any way they choose. Copyright protection prevents others from taking advantage of the copyright owner’s ideas or expressions without permission.
Real-World Examples
Take the book Fifty Shades of Grey, written by E.L. James in 2011. James is the author, and thus the copyright owner, of this highly successful novel. Her exclusive rights include sole authority over any duplication of the work in any form, such as television or film adaptations of the book. In the case of Fifty Shades of Grey, the book was given a film adaptation in 2015, which James was able to approve or reject before it went into production.
Another example can be found in the music industry. Justin Bieber is the copyright holder of his hit single, “Babe.” No one can legally copy or reproduce his song without getting permission from Bieber or the music label they are contractually bound to. If the song was to be sampled, the copyright holder (in this case Bieber and his record label) would need to be contacted to grant permission.
Conclusion
In summary, a copyright holder is a person who creates a work that can legally be protected. By doing so, authors receive the exclusive right to use, reproduce, adapt, and share their work with others. Copyright protection ensures that copyright owners’ ideas and expressions are protected from being unlawfully claimed and exploited by other individuals or entities.