Which right is granted by the United States government for a period of years to exclusively own and control an original written document, piece of music, software, or other form of expression?

• A. Copyright
• B. Patent
• C. Trademark
• D. Trade secret

Answer: (A)

Copyright protects original works of authorship fixed in a tangible form, such as a written document, a piece of music, or software, giving the creator exclusive rights to control reproduction, distribution, performance, display, and the creation of derivative works. This protection lasts for a period of years that varies by type of work and date of creation, but it generally extends for the author's life plus many decades, or a corresponding term for corporate works. This makes copyright the right that best fits the idea of exclusive ownership and control over original expressive content.

Patents cover new inventions or processes and last about 20 years from filing. Trademarks protect brand identifiers like logos, names, and symbols and regulate how those identifiers are used to prevent consumer confusion. Trade secrets protect information kept confidential because its secrecy provides economic value. These forms of protection address different needs and kinds of intellectual property than copyright, which is specifically about original expressive works.