What does copyright allow an owner to do?

The correct understanding of copyright encompasses the owner's rights to control the reproduction and modification of their work. Copyright enables the owner to make copies of the work and, importantly, to create derivative works. This means they can modify the original work, adapt it into new formats, or incorporate it into other works as long as they retain the ownership rights.

This means that under copyright, the owner has exclusive rights to use their work in ways that others cannot unless they receive permission. For instance, an author of a book can publish the book, make edited versions, or allow adaptations, but they also retain the ability to control how others use or reproduce that work.

Other choices do not accurately reflect the rights afforded by copyright. Using any part of the work without attribution goes against copyright principles, as acknowledgment of the original creator is a key component of respectful use of someone's work. Distributing a work without permission violates copyright law, as the owner has exclusive rights to control distribution. Lastly, copyright does not prevent others from creating educational materials; rather, it allows for certain uses under fair use provisions, especially in educational content, as long as the user's actions respect the copyright holder's rights.