Copyrights are perhaps the most common type of intellectual property (along with trademarks), and are the first stop when it comes to protecting software-based products. This is because copyrights, which protect a particular expression of an idea, exist automatically upon fixation of an author's work in a tangible medium of expression.
This means that a graphic designer's works are protected the instant they are drawn on paper or saved on a computer. A software programmer's works are protected the instant they are saved to disc. As a prim sculptor, clothing designer, builder, artist or architect in a virtual world such as Second Life, your house, sculpture, clothing, or other prim- or graphic-based work is protected the instant the virtual world servers save your work so that you or others can subsequently see it.
