What is the difference between a copyright and a license?

A copyright and a license are two different types of intellectual property rights that provide protection to the creators of original works. The main difference between a copyright and a license is that a copyright is an exclusive right to copy and distribute a work, while a license is a permission granted by the copyright holder to another party to use the copyrighted work. A copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted by the government to the creator of an original work, such as a book, film, or musical composition. These rights include the exclusive right to copy, distribute, publicly perform, and display the work. Generally, a copyright holder has the exclusive legal right to decide who can reproduce, distribute, perform, or display the work. Copyright protection is automatic and does not require an individual to register for a copyright. In contrast, a license is a permission granted by the copyright holder to another party to use the copyrighted work. A license enables the licensee to copy, distribute, publicly perform, or display the work. A license is a contract between the copyright holder and the licensee. A license usually includes details such as how many copies of the work can be made, how the work can be used, and any fees or royalties that the licensee is required to pay the copyright holder. In summary, a copyright is an exclusive right to copy and distribute a work, while a license is a permission granted by the copyright holder to another party to use the copyrighted work.

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