Which of the following cannot be copyrighted?

1 answer

In general, the following types of works cannot be copyrighted:

  1. Ideas, Procedures, Methods, or Systems: Copyright protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. For example, you cannot copyright a concept for a new invention.

  2. Facts and Data: Facts, statistics, and common knowledge cannot be copyrighted. This includes information that is widely known or that has been published in the public domain.

  3. Works of the U.S. Government: In the United States, works created by federal government employees as part of their official duties are not eligible for copyright protection.

  4. Public Domain Works: Any work that is in the public domain cannot be copyrighted. This includes works that have either never been copyrighted or whose copyright has expired.

  5. Short Phrases and Titles: Single words, names, titles, and short phrases (such as slogans) generally cannot be copyrighted.

  6. Functional Objects: Items that have a utilitarian function (like a chair design) are usually covered by patent law, not copyright law.

If you have a list of specific options to choose from, please provide it for a more tailored response!