The Copyright Act divides the materials protected into two categories: works and other subject matter. The rules applying to the two categories are different – for example, the length and scope of copyright protection differs for the two different categories. Examples of the two categories include:
a. Works
| Artistic Works | Literary Works | Musical Works | Dramatic Works |
| paintings sculptures graphics cartoons etchings lithographs photography drawings plans maps diagrams charts buildings models of buildings moulds and casts for sculptures |
novels text books newspaper articles magazine articles journals poems song lyrics timetables technical manuals instruction manuals computer software computer games anthologies directories databases |
melodies song music pop songs advertising jingles film score |
plays screenplays mime choreography |
b. Other Subject Matter
| Films | Sound Recordings | Broadcasts | Published Editions |
| films video recordings DVDs television programs advertisements music videos online films and videos |
digital recordings vinyl CD DVD audio cassette tapes |
radio television |
typesetting (the layout and look of a publication) |