Which type of works are protected by copyright law?

Copyright law protects a specific category of works that exhibit creativity and originality. Creative written works, such as novels, poems, articles, and scripts, fall squarely within this protection as they are expressions of ideas rather than the ideas themselves. The law grants authors exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display their works, ensuring that their intellectual property is safeguarded against unauthorized use.

Legal documentation, while important, is generally not protected by copyright in the same way as creative written works. This is because legal documents are often considered utilitarian and may not meet the threshold of creativity required for copyright protection. Similarly, pro bono services and joint retainers pertain to legal practice and client relationships, and these concepts do not pertain to copyrightable material. Thus, the focus on creative written works accurately reflects the types of creations intended to be protected under copyright law.