What is the definition of copyright in intellectual property law?

The definition of copyright in intellectual property law is fundamentally about the protection of creative works. It grants the creator exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display their work. The notion of "the right to copy" captures the essence of copyright, as it emphasizes the right of the author to control how their work is used by others. This right is indeed transferrable, meaning the creator can sell or license these rights to others, thereby enabling commercial use of their intellectual property.

While the other options relate to aspects of intellectual property, they do not encapsulate the full definition of copyright. Creating new works or documenting authorship and establishing a reputation fall under broader themes within intellectual property but do not specifically define the legal protection that copyright provides. Copyright is distinctly focused on the rights associated with the original expressions of ideas, residing primarily in the creator's ability to control the copying and distribution of their work.