Legal Definitions - literary work

A literary work, in the context of copyright law, refers to a creative expression primarily conveyed through words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols. This category is intentionally broad and extends far beyond what is traditionally considered "literature" like novels or poetry. For a work to qualify as a literary work, it must be fixed in a tangible medium, meaning it exists in a form that can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, such as on paper, in a digital file, or as computer code.

• Example: A newly published historical fiction novel detailing the lives of medieval knights and their adventures.

  Explanation: This novel is a classic example of a literary work because its creative expression is entirely conveyed through written words, arranged into a narrative story. The author's unique plot, characters, and dialogue are all fixed in a tangible medium (the printed book or its digital equivalent), making it eligible for copyright protection as a literary work.

• Example: The complete source code for a new mobile application designed to help users track their fitness goals, written in a programming language like Python or Java.

  Explanation: Although not a traditional book, the source code of a computer program is considered a literary work. It consists of a series of instructions and commands expressed through numerical and verbal symbols (the programming language) that are fixed in a digital medium. This code represents the creative expression of the programmer and is protected under copyright as a literary work.

• Example: A scientific research paper published in a peer-reviewed academic journal, detailing the findings of a new study on the effects of artificial intelligence on human cognition.

  Explanation: This research paper, even though it presents factual information and scientific analysis, qualifies as a literary work. Its content is expressed through written words, data, and numerical representations (charts, graphs, statistics) that are organized and presented in a specific, creative manner by the authors. The paper is fixed in a tangible medium (the journal publication, either print or digital), making it a protectable literary work.