Copyright law, established by the United States Constitution, grants creators exclusive rights over their works for a limited period. This legal protection allows authors, musicians, artists, and others to control how their work is used, distributed, and monetized. Copyright starts as soon as a work is created and fixed in a tangible form, such as a manuscript, painting, recording, or photograph. However, copyright protection is not indefinite. Once it expires, the work enters the public domain, where it becomes freely accessible for anyone to use without permission from the original creator.

In May 2021, Donald Glover, widely known by his stage name Childish Gambino, faced a legal challenge when he was sued for copyright infringement over his 2018 hit single, "This is America." The lawsuit was brought by Emelike Nwosuocha, a Florida-based rapper who performs under the name Kidd Wes.