What does copyright protect?

Copyright is a legal framework that protects the rights of creators over their original works of authorship. This includes various forms of creative expression, such as literature, music, art, films, and software. The essence of copyright is to encourage creativity by granting authors exclusive rights to their works, ensuring that they can control how their creations are used and distributed.

The reason option C is the correct choice is that it encapsulates the core purpose of copyright protection, which is to safeguard original expressions of ideas. This means that once someone creates an original piece of work, they automatically hold the rights to it, which can include the right to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display the work publicly.

In contrast, the other options refer to other forms of intellectual property or business practices that do not fall under the umbrella of copyright. For instance, inventions and industrial designs are protected by patents, while distinctive symbols (such as logos) that identify brands are protected by trademark law. Business practices that provide a competitive edge are often protected by trade secret law. Each of these legal protections serves different purposes and applies to different types of creativity and business activities.