Copyright protection is applicable to original published or unpublished works of any type which are fixed in a tangible form, for example a novel, a sound or video recording, or a computer program.
A copyright grants its holder the right to prevent others from copying, displaying publicly, creating derivative works or using in an unfair manner the copyrighted material.
This right is attained immediately when a work is created and fixed in a tangible form, or alternatively, a copyright can be obtained through license or other agreement. Registering a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office, while not required to create a copyright, early registration is important to provide proof of the copyright and to provide a greater range of damage remedies against infringers. Further, a U.S. copyright registration is required prior to suing for copyright infringement on a work of U.S. origin.