10. If a written work is not original and is not in a fixed context, how does copyright law pertain to it?

Question

The written work is protected by copyright law.
The written work is protected by copyright law after seven years in the public domain.
The written work is not covered by copyright law and is fair game for others to use.
The written work is automatically covered by a Creative Commons license.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: The written work is not covered by copyright law and is fair game for others to use.

In copyright law, a written work must be original and fixed in a tangible medium of expression to be protected. If a work is not original (meaning it does not contain a sufficient degree of creativity and is not the author's own creation) and is not in a fixed form (meaning it is not recorded in some physical way), it does not qualify for copyright protection. Therefore, it can be used by others without permission.