What is the intellectual property protection for the tangible expression of a creative idea?

The correct choice is copyright, which specifically protects the tangible expression of creative ideas, such as literature, music, art, and other forms of original work. Copyright grants the creator exclusive rights to use, reproduce, and distribute their work, allowing them to control how it is utilized and ensuring they can benefit financially from their creativity. This protection is vital for authors, artists, and musicians, as it prevents others from copying or profiting from their creative expressions without permission.

In contrast, trade secrets protect confidential business information that provides a competitive edge, such as formulas or practices. Trademarks are used to protect brand identities and symbols that distinguish goods or services in the marketplace. Patents protect inventions and processes that provide a new way of doing something or a new product. Each of these other forms of intellectual property serves different purposes and applies to different types of creative and intellectual endeavors, but they do not overlap with the specific protection provided by copyright for creative works.