What does copyright primarily protect?

The primary function of copyright is to protect creative works in their tangible form. This legal framework grants creators exclusive rights to use, distribute, and reproduce their original works, which can include a wide range of formats such as literature, music, art, and films, as long as they are expressed in a fixed medium. This protection encourages creativity and allows creators to reap the benefits of their labor by safeguarding their work from unauthorized use or reproduction.

While ideas and concepts, trademarks, slogans, and mathematical formulas may have their own forms of protection under intellectual property law, copyright specifically does not cover these. Ideas and concepts themselves are not protected unless they are expressed in a fixed form. Trademarks protect brand names and logos, while mathematical formulas are typically considered scientific or factual information rather than creative expressions eligible for copyright. This distinction highlights the unique role that copyright plays in fostering creativity and protecting artistic expression.