Overview

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As Defined by "The copyright act" (R.S.C. 1985 bill c-42) In relation to a work, means the sole right to produce or reproduce the work or any substantial part thereof in any material form whatever, to perform the work, or any substantial part thereof in public or, if the work is unpublished, to publish the work or any substantial part thereof, and includes the sole right: =====

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C) In the case of a novel or other non-dramatic work, or of an artistic work, to convert it into a dramatic work, by way of performance in public or otherwise. =====

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D) In the case of literary, dramatic or musical work, to make any sound recording, cinematograph film or other contrivance by means of which the work may be mechanically reproduced or performed. =====

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E) In the case of any Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, to reproduce, adapt and publicly present the work as a cinematographic work =====

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F) In the case of any literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, to communicate the work to the public by telecommunication =====

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G) To present at a public exibition, for a purpose other than sale or hire, an artistic work created after June 7, 1988, other than a map, chart or plan. =====

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Copyright protects traditional works such as literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, as well as non-traditional works such as sound recordings, performer's performances and broadcast signals. It protects both published and not published: =====
 * =====Literary works including books, magazines, newspapers,compilations, tables and computer programes =====
 * =====Music works including any accompanying words[[image:copyrightandeducation/logosssss.jpg width="280" height="280" align="right"]] =====
 * =====Dramatic works including any accompanying music =====
 * Pantomimes and Choreographic works
 * =====Pictorial, Graphic and sculptural works =====
 * Architectural works and drawings
 * Web pages and materials on internet

No lines are drawn by the law between what is creative enough to be protected by copyright and what is not creative enough. Only cases and statutes tell us what is or is not creative enough. The Copyright Act says:

In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work

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<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> ===== <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">These are items that by their very nature are not eligible for copyright protection:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Ideas
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Facts
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Titles
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Names
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Short phrases
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Blank forms

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">When a copyright expires, the work is said to fall or merge into the "Public Domain." This means the work is no longer protected and anyone can copy, distribute, display, or perform the work.