Copyright is a legal right that protects the original works of authors, artists, and composers. It gives the creator of a work the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and adapt their work.

Copyright protects all original works of authorship, including literary works, musical works, dramatic works, artistic works, and more.

Copyright protection begins as soon as a work is created. It does not need to be published, registered, or sold.

In the United States, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For works created after January 1, 1978, the copyright term is 70 years after the death of the author.

A copyright holder has the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, adapt, and display their work.

Fair use is a doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. It is a defense to copyright infringement.

Courts consider all of the following factors when determining whether a use is fair use: the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount and substantiality of the portion used, and the effect of the use on the potential market for the copyrighted work.

The best way to protect your copyright is to register your work with the Copyright Office, put a copyright notice on your work, and keep a record of your creative process.

If you believe your copyright has been infringed, you can contact the infringer and ask them to stop, file a complaint with the Copyright Office, or sue the infringer in court.

The consequences of copyright infringement can include the infringer being ordered to pay damages to the copyright holder, the infringer being ordered to stop infringing the copyright, and the infringer being criminally prosecuted.

The best way to avoid copyright infringement is to get permission from the copyright holder before using their work, use only works that are in the public domain, and use works that are covered by a fair use exception.

You can protect your copyright on social media by using a copyright notice on your photos, registering your photos with the Copyright Office, and using a watermark on your photos.

If you see someone using your photos without your permission on social media, you can contact the person and ask them to remove the photos, report the infringement to the social media platform, and file a complaint with the Copyright Office.

Using a copyright notice on your photos can put others on notice that your photos are protected by copyright, make it easier to prove that you are the owner of the photos, and help you to deter copyright infringement.

Registering your photos with the Copyright Office can create a public record of your copyright, make it easier to prove that you are the owner of the photos, and help you to deter copyright infringement.