Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to authors of "original works" that are fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works. Copyright does not protect ideas; copyright protects the expression of ideas.
• To reproduce the work (i.e. to make copies);
• To prepare derivative works (i.e. to make a movie from a book or to translate a work into another language);
• To distribute copies publicly;
• To perform the work publicly (i.e. a play or movie);
• To display the work publicly; and
• In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.
The owner of the copyright may transfer all or part of these rights to others. Subject to some exceptions described in this guide, including Fair Use, if a person exercises any of these rights without permission of the copyright holder, that person may be liable for copyright infringement.
The Copyright Book: A Practical Guide by 
Copyright Law in a Nutshell by 
Understanding Copyright: Intellectual Property in the Digital Age by 
