What type of assets do copyrights protect?

Copyrights protect artistic and creative expressions, which encompass a wide range of works such as literature, music, visual arts, films, and software code. This form of intellectual property gives the creator exclusive rights to use, reproduce, and distribute their original work, thus preventing unauthorized use by others.

The protection under copyright law does not extend to physical assets, but rather to the expression of ideas in a tangible medium. For instance, while a physical painting can be owned and sold, the copyright resides with the artist, ensuring they can control how their artwork is reproduced or displayed. Similarly, software code is protected as a creative expression rather than as a technological invention.

Additionally, copyright does not cover business ideas and methods or technological hardware, as these are typically protected under different forms of intellectual property, such as patents or trademarks. The primary focus of copyright is always on the expression of ideas rather than the ideas themselves or their physical embodiments.