What is Copyright?
A form of protection provided by the laws of the United States for "original works of authorship", including literary, dramatic, musical, architectural, cartographic, choreographic, pantomimic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, and audiovisual creations. "Copyright" literally means the right to copy but has come to mean that body of exclusive rights granted by law to copyright owners for protection of their work. Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, title, principle, or discovery. Similarly, names, titles, short phrases, slogans, familiar symbols, mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, coloring, and listings of contents or ingredients are not subject to copyright.
Definition from https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/definitions.html
Photo by Matt Zhang flickr 
Transcript of the first published copyright law. Six pages with translation for easier reading.
Professor Lawrence Lessig presents a three part series about his book Free Culture. Professor Lessig is a law professor at Harvard and prior was a law professor at Sanford. He is also the founder of Creative Commons. His videos can be viewed in one sitting from the first episode or each part can be watched individually. Video goes into a bit of the history of copyright and c
Free PDF version of his book Free Culture available under Creative Commons license http://www.free-culture.cc/freecontent/
Lessig video Free Culture video can be watched here in one video or in separate parts listed below. https://youtu.be/xVk77VQuPAY
