Protection extends only to the author's expression of an idea or concept.
The expression includes the style, language and structure of the work as a whole. Thus, facts, such as actual news events, are not themselves copyrightable. The scope of protection accorded directories, almanacs and other compilations will depend on the originality of the compilation, although individual facts are not protectable. Moreover, under the Visual Artist Rights Act of 1990, authors of certain kinds of visual art have an inalienable right to have authorship of the work attributed to them and are protected against the destruction, mutilation or distortion of their work. As to works published after that date, however, failure to provide a copyright notice no longer leads to a loss of exclusive rights in the work.