Which of the following statements is true about copyright?

The statement that copyright applies to every work regardless of publication status is correct. Copyright protection automatically arises the moment a creative work is fixed in a tangible form, such as written down, recorded, or saved in digital format. This protection is in effect whether the work has been published or not, meaning that it covers both published and unpublished works. As a result, creators retain rights over their works as soon as they are created and expressed in a format that can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated.

In contrast, the other statements do not reflect the full scope of copyright. Copyright does not require registration with a government entity; although registration can provide additional legal benefits, such as the ability to sue for statutory damages, protection exists independently of that process. Additionally, copyright applies to a variety of creative works, including but not limited to written texts, music, visual art, and digital content, rather than being confined solely to artistic works. Lastly, copyright encompasses not just published works but all original creations fixed in a tangible medium. This comprehensive nature of copyright protection emphasizes that it is a foundational aspect of intellectual property law.