What Is Digital Media?

Digital Media

The term digital media is frequently used to refer to products and services that provide information or entertainment in digital form, especially online via the Internet. Examples of digital media include online news sources, video games, blogs, and social media. The term may also be used to describe online content, especially content that is interactive; on-demand media that is accessible through a range of devices; and media that is responded to or shared in real time. It is sometimes used to refer to content that is created, published, or distributed by individuals or non-traditional publishers, such as bloggers.

Which Copyright Laws Protect Digital Media?

An original work of authorship that is fixed in a tangible form, and exhibits at least a minimal amount of creativity, may be protected by copyright under U.S. law. Because a work is considered to be “fixed in a tangible form” if it is stored and can be viewed, either directly or with the aid of a device, most “digital media” content will be protected by general copyright law in the same way as other types of works. Copyright law grants the owner of a copyright various exclusive rights to use the protected work, including the right to copy it; create derivative works based on it; and distribute it to the public. For certain types of works, including audiovisual products and sound recordings, the copyright owner also has the exclusive right to publicly perform or publicly display the work.

Explore legal developments surrounding new media by visiting Winston & Strawn’s Media & Entertainment Practice.