Copyright Protection

Copyright is a form of protection provided by title 17, U. S. Code to the authors of original works of literature, drama, music, art, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. In general, works are protected from the moment of creation and given a term of the author’s life plus 70 years after death.

It is illegal for anyone to use, publish, submit as their own work, of make money off of copyrighted works. Only the author or heirs of the author can rightfully claim copyright unless the work was created as part of an employees duties. then the copyright belongs to the employer. If a work is commissioned of specially order, the copyright belongs to the buyer. Any or all of the copyright owner’s rights or any part of those rights may be transferred if the transfer is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights.

There are some limitations as set out in 1976 Copyright Act. One major limitation is the doctrine of “fair use,” which is given a statutory basis in section 107 of the 1976 Copyright Act. Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered “fair,” such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. The owner of the copyright may also license the work, allowing others to use it.

In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. Registration is not a condition of copyright, however, registration provides several advantages, especailly when it comes to infridgement protection.

For the basics, visit the US Copyright Office.

Have you protected your copyright yet? Copyright piracy is estimated to cost millions every year. Before letting anyone see your work, make sure you've registered your work for copyright protection. For more information, click here