Lerato Mbele speaks to Associate at Tshaya Mashabela Attorneys, Bontle Chokoe about copyright. Copyright is a set of exclusive legal rights given to the author or creator of an original work – that includes the right to copy, distribute, adapt, perform and display the work in public. Today marks World Book and Copyright Day, an annual event held on 23 April to raise awareness of the importance of books, reading, and copyright around the world.