Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) Certificate Practice Exam

The assertion that facts and ideas are not protected by copyright is accurate. Copyright law is designed to protect the expression of ideas and the original works that stem from those ideas, but it does not extend to the ideas, facts, or concepts themselves. This means that while you can copyright a specific presentation of an idea, such as a book, painting, or song, anyone is free to use the underlying idea or fact without infringing copyright.

Creative works with originality, artistic and literary works, and musical performances all qualify for copyright protection because they involve the unique expression of thoughts and creativity. Each of these categories presents a form of expression that demonstrates originality and creativity, which are key requirements for copyright eligibility. Thus, while the expression of creative works is protected, the foundational facts and ideas they might be based on remain in the public domain, affirming that they cannot be owned under copyright.