copyright

1 of 3

noun

copy·​right ˈkä-pē-ˌrīt How to pronounce copyright (audio)
: the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (such as a literary, musical, or artistic work)
His family still holds the copyright to his songs.

copyright

2 of 3

verb

copyrighted; copyrighting; copyrights

transitive verb

: to secure a copyright on
He has copyrighted all of his plays.
copyrightable adjective

copyright

3 of 3

adjective

: secured by copyright
copyright songs

Examples of copyright in a Sentence

Noun His family still holds the copyright to his songs. The book is under copyright. Verb He has copyrighted all of his plays. Adjective The copyright date is 2005.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The response noted ongoing review of 11,500 consultation responses on copyright and AI, with a detailed economic impact assessment promised within nine months. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2025 Suno was one of two AI companies sued last year by major record labels — including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group — which allege that the companies infringed on the labels’ recording copyrights in order to train their music-generating models. Natalie Kainz, NBC news, 3 July 2025
Verb
This has taken practical effect in general rules like the inability to copyright the law. Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 Google spent years beating back legal challenges from authors to its online book library, which included many newer and copyrighted works. Matt O'Brien, Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2025
Adjective
There are already dozens of copyright lawsuits against AI companies winding through the US court system—including a class action lawsuit visual artists brought against Midjourney in 2023—but this is the first time major Hollywood studios have jumped into the fray. Kate Knibbs, Wired News, 11 June 2025 Presumably just as they were paid (or not) by lords and monarchs who commissioned musical works for weddings and entertainments before copyright law was a thing. Bill Hochberg, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for copyright

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1735, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1806, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of copyright was in 1735

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Copyright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copyright. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

copyright

1 of 2 noun
copy·​right -ˌrīt How to pronounce copyright (audio)
: the legal right to be the only one to reproduce, publish, or sell the contents and form of a literary, musical, or artistic work
copyright adjective

copyright

2 of 2 verb
: to get a copyright on

Legal Definition

copyright

1 of 2 noun
copy·​right ˈkä-pē-ˌrīt How to pronounce copyright (audio)
: a person's exclusive right to reproduce, publish, or sell his or her original work of authorship (as a literary, musical, dramatic, artistic, or architectural work) see also common-law copyright, fair use at use sense 2, infringe, intellectual property at property, international copyright, original, public domain compare patent, trademark

Note: Copyrights are governed by the Copyright Act of 1976 contained in title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Act protects published or unpublished works that are fixed in a tangible medium of expression from which they can be perceived. The Act does not protect matters such as an idea, process, system, or discovery. Protection under the Act extends for the life of the creator of the work plus seventy years after his or her death. For works created before January 1, 1978, but not copyrighted or in the public domain, the copyright starts on January 1, 1978, and extends for the same period as for other works, but in any case will not expire before December 31, 2002. If a work is published on or before December 31, 2002, the copyright will not expire before December 31, 2047. The Act abolishes protection under common law, as well as any rights available under state statute, in favor of the rights available under the provisions of the Act, with certain exceptions.

copyright adjective

copyright

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to secure a copyright on
copyrightability
ˌkä-pē-ˌrī-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun
copyrightable adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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