Your copyright protections prevents anyone from reproducing or distributing your work without your express permission. Copyrights are usually associated within written work, but they can include dance routines, photos, sculptures, or architecture. The author of the work owns the copyright, and you own the work of any employee completed on your behalf by employees.

You do not have to put a copyright notice on your work, but it is recommended to give notice that you are asserting your ownership of the work. An exception for the use of copyrighted work is made for the purpose of criticism, news reporting, and teaching. Copyright protection lasts for the length of the author