- published: 24 Mar 2011
- views: 5865954
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time. Generally, it is "the right to copy", but also gives the copyright holder the right to be credited for the work, to determine who may adapt the work to other forms, who may perform the work, who may financially benefit from it, and other related rights. It is an intellectual property form (like the patent, the trademark, and the trade secret) applicable to any expressible form of an idea or information that is substantive and discrete.[clarification needed]
Copyright initially was conceived as a way for government to restrict printing; the contemporary intent of copyright is to promote the creation of new works by giving authors control of and profit from them. Copyrights are said to be territorial, which means that they do not extend beyond the territory of a specific state unless that state is a party to an international agreement. Today, however, this is less relevant since most countries are parties to at least one such agreement. While many aspects of national copyright laws have been standardized through international copyright agreements, copyright laws of most countries have some unique features. Typically, the duration of copyright is the whole life of the creator plus fifty to a hundred years from the creator's death, or a finite period for anonymous or corporate creations. Some jurisdictions have required formalities to establishing copyright, but most recognize copyright in any completed work, without formal registration. Generally, copyright is enforced as a civil matter, though some jurisdictions do apply criminal sanctions.
Wedding bells as heard from a bus
Clanging bells, they ring for the two of us
When they're through with us
Up in the sky, threatening cloud drifts by
Eloped so soon, hope there's no typhoon
On our honeymoon
Kids casting stones wave to the ship
With a moan and a shudder, we're fast on our trip
What future awaits, we're ready to brave
Whatever our fate from here to the grave
The ocean, once azure, is quite blacker than before
And we are far from any shore
The cries of the gulls make a lullabye
Day comes too soon