What are some examples of copyrighted material?

Asked by: Bessie Schoen  |  Last update: February 1, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (58 votes)

Copyright protects original creative works fixed in a tangible form, including literary works (books, articles, software), musical works (songs, scores), audiovisual works (movies, videos), artistic works (photos, paintings, sculptures, maps), dramatic works, choreography, sound recordings, and architectural designs. Essentially, anything you create that shows a spark of originality and is written down, recorded, or built can be copyrighted, from blog posts to building blueprints.

What are some examples of copyrighted materials?

What are some examples of copyright works?

  • A novel.
  • A poem.
  • A photograph.
  • A movie.
  • Lyrics to a song.
  • A musical composition in the form of sheet music.
  • A sound recording.
  • A painting.

What are the copyrighted materials?

Copyright is a broad category that protects creators of: Literary, dramatic, artistic, musical works (e.g. book, letter, e-mail, blog, computer program, compilation, government publication, script, play, film, painting, sculpture, photograph, map, architectural drawing, sheet music, compositions, music video, etc.)

What are 5 things that can be copyrighted?

Examples of works protected by copyright are:

  • Literary Works.
  • Computer software.
  • Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works (e.g. paintings, drawings, carvings, photographs, clothing designs)
  • Architectural works (buildings as well as blueprints, drawings, diagrams, models)

What are some examples of copyright?

Many types of works are eligible for copyright protection, for example: Audiovisual works, such as TV shows, movies, and online videos. Sound recordings and musical compositions. Written works, such as lectures, articles, books, and musical compositions.

Copyright and Use of Copyrighted Materials

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What is a famous example of copyright?

At the top of most famous copyright cases lists is that of rock legends David Bowie and Queen against rapper Vanilla Ice. If you've ever heard the opening seconds of Ice's 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby" and thought it could be Queen and Bowie's "Under Pressure," you wouldn't be alone.

Is Coca-Cola copyrighted?

You further acknowledge that Coca Cola owns the trademarks “Coca Cola”, “Coke” and all associated Coca Cola trade names, service marks and logos.

What is the most common copyright?

Creative Commons licenses are applied by the copyright owner to their own works. These are the most prominently used licenses of their type in the world. There are four components to the licenses that are arranged in six configurations: BY - attribution required.

Can I print copyrighted material for personal use?

No, you cannot make copies of copyrighted material for personal use. It is not permissible to reproduce copyrighted materials in any circumstance, without the written permission of the copyright holder, unless it falls under Fair Use policy.

What is usually copyrighted?

Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.

What items cannot be copyrighted?

Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. In some cases, these things may be protected as trademarks.

Which are examples of copyrighted online materials?

Here are some common examples of things you might use that are copyrighted: Books, articles, newspapers, journals, and other text. Images such as photographs, illustrations, paintings, maps, architectural drawings, and typefaces. Videos, film, and other moving images.

What are the 5 key elements of copyright?

This overview will introduce you to copyright through five key concepts: Work, Ownership, Infringement, Exceptions, and Balance.

What is considered copyrighted material?

Section 102(a) of the Copyright Act defines the following eight things as copyrightable: (1) literary works; (2) musical works, including any accompanying words; (3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music; (4) pantomimes and choreographic works; (5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works; (6) motion ...

How to know if material is copyrighted?

How to Check if Something Is Copyrighted

  1. Search the U.S. Copyright Office Catalog. Visit copyright.gov and use the Public Catalog to search for registered works by title, author, or keyword. ...
  2. Check for a Copyright Notice. ...
  3. Search Online Platforms. ...
  4. Look for Digital Watermarks or Metadata. ...
  5. Consider Unregistered Copyrights.

Is YouTube material copyrighted?

Every new video uploaded to YouTube is checked against this huge library of reference files, and if there is a match, YouTube automatically files a copyright claim for the owner of the work.

What images can I use without permission?

You can use images without permission if they are in the public domain, released under a permissive Creative Commons (CC) license, generated by AI, or if your use qualifies as fair use (like for criticism, news, or education), but the safest bet is using sites like Unsplash, Pixabay, and Pexels for royalty-free stock photos. Always check the specific license or terms for any image, even on free sites, as conditions can vary. 

What is the 3 month rule for copyright?

The "copyright 3 month rule" refers to a key deadline for U.S. copyright registration: you must register your work within three months of its first publication (or before infringement begins) to be eligible to claim statutory damages and attorney's fees in a copyright infringement lawsuit, which can be crucial for remedies beyond just an injunction. Failing to meet this deadline means you generally can only sue for actual damages (harder to prove) if infringement occurs, but registration is still vital for other benefits and to sue at all, notes Donahue Fitzgerald LLP and Cotman IP. 

Can you use copyrighted material if you don't make money?

No. Using someone else's work without permission is copyright infringement, whether you make money from it or not. Such use might, however, influence whether what you did is considered “fair use” by a court, or how much money the court awards in damages.

What are 5 specific items that are likely to be copyrighted?

The subject matter eligible for protection is set forth in the Copyright Act of 1976. Copyrightable works include literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works such as books, plays, music, lyrics, paintings, sculptures, video games, movies, sound recordings, and software.

What are the three rules of copyright?

Three key aspects of U.S. copyright law include the exclusive rights granted to creators (reproduction, adaptation, distribution, performance, display), the requirement for a work to be original, creative, and fixed for protection, and the duration of copyright, typically the life of the author plus 70 years. These laws, primarily found in Title 17 of the U.S. Code, protect original expressions like books, music, software, and art. 

What is a good example of copyright?

Once you create an original work and fix it, like taking a photograph, writing a poem or blog, or recording a new song, you are the author and the owner. Companies, organizations, and other people besides the work's creator can also be copyright owners.

What if I invested $1000 in Coca-Cola 10 years ago?

Investing $1,000 in Coca-Cola (KO) stock about 10 years ago (mid-2015 to mid-2025) would have grown significantly, potentially doubling or more, depending on the exact date, with returns often cited around 100-130% or more, turning your $1,000 into roughly $2,000 to $2,300+, but often underperforming a broader S&P 500 investment over that specific decade, though KO offers strong dividends as a "Dividend King".
 

What are some 5 examples of trademarks?

Five examples of trademarks are the Nike Swoosh (logo), Coca-Cola (word/brand name), the McDonald's Golden Arches (logo), the Apple logo (symbol), and the Tiffany Blue Color used for its boxes (color/trade dress), protecting brand identity and distinguishing products in the marketplace. 

Can you put your name on a coke bottle?

Yes, you can order personalized Coca-Cola bottles with names through the official Coca-Cola Store, primarily featuring the iconic 8oz glass bottles or cans, for personal use or corporate events, with options to add names, phrases, or special themes. You'll use their online customization tools, entering names for bulk orders or single names for smaller batches, keeping in mind content guidelines.