According to the 2008 Merriam Webster dictionary, the noun of copyright is "the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (as a literary, musical, or artistic work)" What this means is that if you were to own copyright privileges of a novel or song, then you alone have the right to reproduce, publish, sell and distribute your work.
Copyright is considered property, as decided by the 1908 Supreme Court case of Continental Paper Bag v. Eastern Paper Bag. In this case, the court decided that intellectual property held the same rights as physical property. For example, if you had in your possession a priceless piece of art that was stolen and sold on the black market, it would parallel writing a hit song that was stolen and played on the radio. In both of these examples, your property, be it physical or intellectual, was illegally stolen.
Initially, copyright was created so that governments could restrict printing, but that is obviously not what it is used for anymore. Now, it is used to promote new works by giving authors control and profit opportunities. Before the advent of copyright, works were rarely published due to lack of ownership. This means that just about anyone could claim credit for works of which they had nothing to do with.
Now, however, copyrights have been internationally standardized due to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. This original French sentiment soon became the world standard as countries around the globe adhered to droit d'auteur, or "right of the author."
There are limitations of copyright, especially in recent years. With the development of digital media and ever-growing computer technologies, reinterpretations have been prompted. These new interpretations may introduce new difficulties in enforcing those who break copyright law, as well as challenge the basic fundamental philosophy of what copyright is.
