Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An artistic work is something created by an artist, like a painting, sculpture, or photograph. It can also be a movie, book, or song. To be protected by copyright, the work must be original, fixed in a tangible form, and involve some creativity. The person who creates the work owns the copyright, which means they have the right to control how it is used and copied. Some works, like those created by the U.S. government, cannot be copyrighted.
Artistic work refers to any visual representation, such as a painting, drawing, map, photograph, sculpture, engraving, or architectural plan. It is an original expression that may be entitled to common-law or statutory copyright protection.
For example, a painting by Vincent van Gogh, a photograph by Ansel Adams, or a sculpture by Michelangelo are all examples of artistic works. These works are protected by copyright law, which means that the creator has exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display the work.
Artistic works are one of the eight general categories eligible for copyright protection. Other categories include literary works, musical works, and audiovisual works.