Title 17 of the U.S. Code

Title 17 of the U.S. Code is the part of federal law that governs copyright. It provides legal protection for "original works of authorship," such as books, music, films, and software, allowing creators to control how their work is used and distributed. Copyright gives the creator exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display their work for a set period, typically the life of the author plus 70 years. This encourages creativity by ensuring that creators can benefit financially from their work while also allowing for fair use under certain conditions, which permits limited use without permission.