Copyright law applies to nearly all creative works. If you can see it, hear it, feel it or watch it, the chances are good it is covered by copyright law. If you use a copyrighted work, you may have to get permission from the copyright holder.
Types of Works Protected by Copyright
Copyright law protects "works of authorship." The Copyright Act states that works of authorship include the following types of works:
Literary works. Novels, nonfiction prose, poetry, newspaper articles and newspapers, magazine articles and magazines, computer software, software documentation and manuals, training manuals, manuals, catalogs, brochures, ads (text), and compilations such as business directories
Musical works. Songs, advertising jingles, and instrumentals.
Dramatic works. Plays, operas, and skits.
Pantomimes and choreographic works. Ballets, modern dance, jazz dance, and mime works.
Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works. Photographs, posters, maps, paintings, drawings, graphic art, display ads, cartoon strips and cartoon characters, stuffed animals, statues, paintings, and works of fine art.
Motion pictures and other audiovisual works. Movies, documentaries, travelogues, training films and videos, television shows, television ads, and interactive multimedia works.
Sound recordings. Recordings of music, sounds, or words.
Architectural works. Building designs, whether in the form of architectural plans, drawings, or the constructed building itself.
Standards
To receive copyright protection, a work must be "original" and must be "fixed" in a tangible medium of expression.