Copyright covers which of the following types of works?

Copyright specifically protects original works of authorship, which encompasses a broad range of creative expressions. This includes literature, music, theater, visual arts, dance, films, and software, among others. The emphasis is on the creativity and originality expressed in these works, allowing creators to have exclusive rights to use and distribute their creations. This exclusivity helps foster an environment where creativity can flourish, as it provides financial and moral support to authors and artists who invest their time and resources into producing such works.

In contrast, trade secrets, patented inventions, and intellectual property management tools do not fall under the realm of copyright. Trade secrets are protected by different laws that guard confidential business information. Patents are meant for inventions and grant the inventor exclusive rights to their inventions for a certain period, distinct from the creative expressions covered by copyright. Intellectual property management tools, while important for managing and protecting various forms of intellectual property, do not constitute works protected by copyright in the same way artistic and literary works do. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the scope of copyright in relation to creative works.