To Promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts

According to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (Feist), “The primary objective of copyright is not to reward the labor of authors, but ‘[t]o promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.’”

In its original usage in America, the word science referred to education.

Authors are assured, by copyright, to the right to use and copy their original expression. However, copyright is also intended to encourage others to build freely upon the ideas and information found in other works.  This principle applies to all works of authorship.

In most fields of research and study, whether it be academic, commercial, or hobby, the growth of knowledge is very dependent upon the efforts of other researchers.