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The term ‘copyright’ refers to laws that govern the use of the creative works of an author or creator.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are a mechanism for encouraging people to create innovative works, processes, designs or brands by granting them a limited monopoly on their creations. IPR enable creators to take ownership of their works and possibly earn money, fame or other rewards from their creations.

Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects original expression. Copyright does not protect effort or ideas, but rather the expression of those ideas. A work must be in some tangible form (e.g. written, recorded, drawn, painted, sculpted, built) in order to qualify for copyright.