copyright
UK[ˈkɒpiraɪt]US[ˈkɑːpiraɪt]
n
The exclusive legal right, given to the originator or their assignee for a fixed number of years, to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.
v
Secure copyright for (material).
Morpheme Breakdown
copy
right
copy
right
Etymology
The word 'copyright' is a transparent compound formed in early 18th century English from the nouns 'copy' and 'right'. 'Copy' derives from the Latin 'copia', meaning abundance, which evolved through Medieval Latin and Anglo-French to signify a transcript or reproduction of a document. 'Right' originates from the Old English 'riht', a term with deep Germanic roots related to law and justice. The compound literally means "the right to make copies," a legal concept that emerged with the invention of the printing press, formalizing the exclusive privilege granted to authors and publishers to control the reproduction of their original works.
Analysis
Structure: copy + right
- copy: From Latin 'copia' (abundance, transcript). In this compound, it refers to a reproduction or transcript of an original work.
- right: From Old English 'riht' (just, good, proper; a legal or moral entitlement). In this compound, it refers to a legal entitlement or privilege.
Examples
The author registered the copyright for her novel immediately after its completion.
It is illegal to distribute that software without the holder's copyright permission.
The filmmaker decided to copyright the documentary before submitting it to festivals.