copyright
gb/kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt/ us/kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt/
B1
English
~ 200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Legal right over creative work
The legal right to control who can copy or use your original writing, art, music, or other creative work.
Usage pattern:
hold a copyright on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'copyright' with 'patent' or 'trademark', which protect different kinds of intellectual property.
Synonyms
intellectual property right (Broader term that includes patents, trademarks, and copyrights, not just creative works.)
Antonyms
public domain (Refers to works that are free for anyone to use without permission or payment.)
Collocations
copyright law
|copyright holder
|copyright infringement
|copyright protection
|copyright notice
Themes
law
|media
|business
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The author holds the copyright to all of her books.
- You need permission to use that photo because it is protected by copyright.
- The movie was taken down due to a copyright violation.
- He registered the song with the copyright office.
- The copyright on this painting will expire in 20 years.
Learner examples
- I own the copyright to my story.
- This song has a copyright.
- The picture is under copyright.
- We must respect the copyright.
- She got the copyright for her book.
Verb
B2
action
2
To protect work legally
To get legal protection for your writing, art, music, or other creative work so no one can copy it without permission.
Usage pattern:
to copyright [a work]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'copyright' as a verb means simply 'to copy something', but it actually means to protect it legally from being copied without permission.
Synonyms
register (In this context, specifically means to formally record a work for legal purposes.)
Antonyms
release into public domain (To give up legal control so anyone can use the work freely.)
Collocations
copyright a book
|copyright material
|copyright your work
Themes
law
|media
|arts_entertainment
|business
Examples
- She decided to copyright her new novel before sending it to publishers.
- The company copyrighted its logo to prevent imitation.
- You should copyright your photographs if you plan to sell them.
- They copyrighted the software as soon as it was completed.
Learner examples
- I will copyright my song.
- He wants to copyright his photo.
- She copyrighted her book.
- We must copyright our design.
Grammar
Dictionary form
copyright
IPA
GB/kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt/
US/kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt/
Syllables & stress
copy - right (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (copy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: copyright
- Plural: copyright, copyrights
Verb
- Base: copyright
- 3rd Person Singular: copyrights
- Present Participle: copyrighting
- Past: copyrighted
Word family
Forms
copyrights
noun
copyrighting
verb
copyrighted
verb
Negative and opposite forms
copyright-free
adjective B2
uncopyrighted
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
copyrightable
adjective B2
Expressions
copyright holder
1/kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt hˈoʊldɚ/
fixed phrase
Owner of legal rights to a work
The person or group that owns the legal right to control who uses a creative work.
Examples
- You must contact the copyright holder before reproducing the article.
- The copyright holder decided not to license the song.
copyright infringement
1/kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt ɪnfɹˈɪnd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
Illegal use of protected work
Using someone else's work without permission when it is protected by law.
Examples
- The website was sued for copyright infringement after posting movies without permission.
- Copyright infringement can lead to heavy fines and legal action.
copyright infringement
2/kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt ɪnfɹˈɪnd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
legal
unauthorized use of copyrighted work
Using someone else's book, song, video, image, or software without permission when copyright protects it.
Examples
- Uploading the entire film to a public website would be copyright infringement.
- The photographer sued the company for copyright infringement after it used her image in an ad.
- The platform removes videos when it receives valid copyright infringement complaints.
under copyright
1/ˈʌndɚ kˈɑpiɹˌaɪt/
fixed phrase
Protected by copyright law
When a work is protected by law so others cannot copy or use it without permission.
Examples
- This image is under copyright and cannot be used without permission.
- Most modern books are still under copyright.