What are the copyright laws in the US?

Copyright law in the United States protects original literary, musical, artistic, and other creative works. The US Copyright Law grants authors, composers, and other creators of original works exclusive rights to their works for a limited period. This means that only they can reproduce, distribute, perform, or display their works publicly. In the United States, you can copyright any original work, except for an idea, procedure, system, or process. Your work must also be in a tangible form. This means that it has to exist in some physical form, such as in writing, on film, or as a recording. Copyright protection is automatic in the United States. This means that as soon as you create a work, you are the owner of the copyright. In North Carolina, copyright law is governed by the federal Copyright Act. Under the act, authors, composers, and other creators of original works are granted exclusive rights including the right to reproduce, display, or publicly perform the work. Additionally, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to make and distribute copies of the work. Copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.

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