COPYRIGHT - A legal device giving the right to control (to the original creator or copyright holder) how their original work is used. Copyright protection begins automatically upon the fixing of an original work or creation to a tangible medium (per the Copyright Act of 1976 effective in 1978).

There are three fundamental criteria for copyright:

• Fixation to a tangible medium
• Originality
• Minimal creativity

Registering your original work with the Office of Copyright is not required for intellectual property to be protected by copyright; however, in the event that infringement should lead to litigation, the legal registration of the original work will benefit the creator.

http://www.rightsforartists.com/