copyright

[ kop-ee-rahyt ]

/ ˈkɒp iˌraɪt /

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See synonyms for: copyright / copyrighting on Thesaurus.com

noun

the exclusive right to make copies, license, and otherwise exploit a literary, musical, or artistic work, whether printed, audio, video, etc.: works granted such right by law on or after January 1, 1978, are protected for the lifetime of the author or creator and for a period of 70 years after his or her death.

adjective

of or relating to copyrights.

Also cop·y·right·ed. protected by copyright.

verb (used with object)

to secure a copyright on.

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Origin of copyright

First recorded in 1725–35; copy + right

OTHER WORDS FROM copyright

cop·y·right·a·ble, adjectivecop·y·right·er, nounun·cop·y·right·ed, adjective

Words nearby copyright

copyleft, copy paper, copy protection, copyread, copyreader, copyright, copyright block, copyright deposit library, copyright law, copyright social conflict, copytaker

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use copyright in a sentence

If a victim’s face is pulled from a copyrighted photo, it’s possible to use IP law.
Deepfake porn is ruining women’s lives. Now the law may finally ban it|Karen Hao|February 12, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Later that same year, it shuttered Google News in Spain following the passing of an even more extensive law that did not allow individual publishers to waive their copyright licensing rights.
Australia’s showdown with Google has profound implications for domestic businesses and other digital platforms|George Nguyen|February 2, 2021|Search Engine Land
Similarly, restrictive copyright rules in Germany and Spain several years ago prompted Google to pull back on snippets, which caused a significant decline in search traffic to news sites in those countries.
Google might remove search in Australia if forced to pay to link to sites|Barry Schwartz|January 22, 2021|Search Engine Land
Google tried to use that same playbook in France after the passage of the EU copyright directive.
Google agrees to pay French news sites to send them traffic|Timothy B. Lee|January 21, 2021|Ars Technica

Another stacksmashing video, entitled "Bringing homebrew to the Nintendo Game & Watch," has also been taken down by an apparent copyright claim.
Nintendo uses copyright claims to take down Game & Watch hacking videos|Kyle Orland|January 14, 2021|Ars Technica
Excerpted from BECOMING RICHARD PRYOR Copyright © 2014 by Scott Saul.
How Richard Pryor Beat Bill Cosby and Transformed America|David Yaffe, Scott Saul|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Copyright © 2014 by Alain Mabanckou from Letter to Jimmy (translated by Sara Meli Ansari).
Living Black & Gay in the ’50s|Alain Mabanckou|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So what I always tell the kids is to be careful about signing to a label and always protect your copyright.
Wyclef Jean Talks Lauryn Hill, the Yele Haiti Controversy, and Chris Christie|Marlow Stern|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For an artist like myself, the most important part is the publishing, and owning my own copyright.
Wyclef Jean Talks Lauryn Hill, the Yele Haiti Controversy, and Chris Christie|Marlow Stern|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
State officials were not amused, and are suing the advocacy group for copyright infringement.
Living in Louisiana’s Tragic Health-Care Limbo|Linda Marsa|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Research has indicated the copyright on this book was not renewed.
Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.|Philip Vickers Fithian
Also for copyright privileges in connection with this and other chapters.
Birds of the Rockies|Leander Sylvester Keyser
When copyright laws are made—by elected officials, acting for the public good—they always safeguard this right.
Makers|Cory Doctorow
Also, he made him two propositions: he would pay him ten thousand dollars cash for his copyright, or he would pay five per cent.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine
About this time began Mark Twain's long and active interest in copyright.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine

British Dictionary definitions for copyright (1 of 2)

/ (ˈkɒpɪˌraɪt) /

noun

the exclusive right to produce copies and to control an original literary, musical, or artistic work, granted by law for a specified number of years (in Britain, usually 70 years from the death of the author, composer, etc, or from the date of publication if later)Symbol: (c)

adjective

(of a work, etc) subject to or controlled by copyright

verb

(tr) to take out a copyright on

Derived forms of copyright

copyrightable, adjectivecopyrighter, noun

British Dictionary definitions for copyright (2 of 2)

symbol for

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for copyright (1 of 2)

The legal protection given to published works, forbidding anyone but the author from publishing or selling them. An author can transfer the copyright to another person or corporation, such as a publishing company.

notes for copyright

Cultural definitions for copyright (2 of 2)

A grant of an exclusive right to produce or sell a book, motion picture, work of art, musical composition, software, or similar product during a specified period of time.