What does the term copyright refer to?

Copyright refers to the legal protection granted to the creators of original works, such as literature, music, art, and software, allowing them exclusive rights to use, reproduce, and distribute their creations. It aims to encourage creativity by ensuring that creators can control how their works are used and receive financial benefits from them. Copyright does not protect ideas themselves, but rather the expression of those ideas in a fixed medium. The duration of copyright protection varies by jurisdiction and type of work.