Legal Definitions - literary works

In legal terms, literary works refer to creative expressions that are primarily conveyed through written words, numbers, or other symbols representing language or data. This category encompasses a broad spectrum of materials, provided their main form of expression is not audiovisual (like a film or a song). The specific format or medium in which these works are stored—whether printed on paper, saved as a digital file, or inscribed on another object—does not alter their classification as literary works.

• Example 1: A comprehensive online encyclopedia entry about quantum physics.

  This encyclopedia entry, composed of detailed text, equations, and numerical data, is a literary work. Its primary method of conveying information is through written words and symbols, rather than through moving images or sounds, even though it is accessed digitally on a screen.

• Example 2: The complete source code for a sophisticated artificial intelligence program.

  The source code, written in a programming language, consists of specific words, numbers, and symbols that instruct a computer. Despite its technical nature and digital embodiment, it is considered a literary work because its expression relies on a structured system of verbal and numerical symbols.

• Example 3: A collection of meticulously transcribed interviews and oral histories from a historical event.

  Even though the original content was spoken, the transcribed text of these interviews and oral histories, presented as written words, constitutes a literary work. The act of transcribing converts the spoken word into a textual format, making it an expression primarily conveyed through written language, regardless of whether it's stored in a physical binder or a digital document.