What Copyright Is and Why It Matters

Copyright is the legal framework that gives creators control over how original works are used, shared, adapted, and monetized. In this lesson, Professor John Ingram explains what copyright protects, who can own it, and why it matters for creators, businesses, and anyone publishing content.

You will also learn the basic rights copyright gives, the limits of those rights, and the practical reasons to care about copyright before you post, license, sell, or reuse creative work.