Batching/automating Metadata?

I am just getting into using the CS file browser's metadata fields for
entering simple information like "description, author, and copyright"
information.
Will this information travel to any subsequent "Save As" files created
from the original file or does ot have to be reentered?
Can common information be batched, automated, or whatevered prior to or
within CS on multiple new or existing files? ie: as camera images are
being downloaded... or all the old images already on the computer
before my discovery of Metadata.
Are there any tutorials on CS Metadata capabilities/management?
Thanks, artguy