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Copyright law was first enacted in 1790. Copyright registration was centralized in the Library of Congress in 1870, and in 1897 a separate Copyright Office was
established.
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For most works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of an author plus another 70 years.
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Intended to be performed for an audience, performing arts works include music, lyrics, sound recordings, scripts, screenplays, choreography, and motion pictures.
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In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln authorized a bill that extended copyright protection to photographs for the first time.
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Photos, paintings, and sculptures are examples of visual arts works. One of the most famous sculptural works ever registered, and perhaps the largest, is the Statue of Liberty, registered in 1876.
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Movies, television shows, concert videos, animations, and some video games are categorized as motion pictures for the purpose of copyright registration.
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Novels, nonfiction, poems, magazines, blogs, and other writings not intended for performance before an audience are considered literary works.