Copyright is a legal right granted to the creator of an original work of authorship, such as a literary, artistic, musical, or dramatic work, or a software program, granting the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license the work for a limited period of time. Copyright law protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. In other words, it protects the form or manner in which an idea is expressed, rather than the idea itself. It aims to prevent unauthorized copying, distribution, or use of a work, allowing the creator to control the use and distribution of their work and to receive compensation for their effort and creativity.