Legal Dictionary of Pakistan

literary work

A work, other than an audiovisual work, that is expressed in words, numbers, or other symbols, regardless of the medium that embodies it. 17 USCA § 101. "Copyright protection extends to literary works which are defined as works, other than audiovisual works, expressed in words, numbers, or other verbal or numerical symbols or indicia, regardless of the nature of the material objects, such as books, periodicals, manuscripts, phonorecords, film, tapes, disks, or cards in which they are embodied. The term 'literary work' does not connote any criterion of literary merit or qualitative value and includes catalogs and directories; similar factual, reference or instructional works; compilations of data; computer data bases, and computer programs." 18 Am. Jur. 2d Copyright and Literary Property § 25, at 360 (1985).