The Copyright Act is a law that protects the rights of creators over their original works, such as books, music, films, and art. It gives authors and artists exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display their creations, ensuring they can benefit financially from their efforts. This protection typically lasts for the creator's lifetime plus an additional number of years, depending on the jurisdiction. Under the Copyright Act, unauthorized use of copyrighted material can lead to legal consequences. The law also allows for certain exceptions, such as fair use, which permits limited use of copyrighted works without permission for purposes like criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, or research.