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Copyright, Fair Use, & Author Rights: Home

Welcome to the Guide on Copyright & Fair Use

What is copyright?

Copyright is a form of intellectual property law that protects original works of 'authorship' from literary works, to  artistic works and more.  Copyright protects the way an author expresses themselves and the owner of a copyrighted work has the right to authorize others to reproduce that work.    Protection is given to both published and unpublished works and do not require the copyright symbol as copyright begins at an items creation.  Learn more ...

  

What IS Covered

In the beginnings, copyright law was intended to cover only books. In the 19th century the law was expanded to include maps, charts, engravings, prints, musical compositions, dramatic works, photographs, paintings, drawings and sculptures. Motion pictures, computer programs, sound recordings, dance and architectural works became protected by copyright in the 20th century.

Copyright protection fall under title 17, U.S. Code and covers "original works of authorship."

So what makes a work original?

  1. Fixity - not the idea but the fixed expression or the manifestation of the idea
  2. Originality
  3. Minimal creativity

What is NOT Covered

  • Works for which the copyright has expired
  • Works federal government employees produced within the scope of their employment
  • Works clearly and explicitly donated to the public domain
  • Works that have not been fixed in a tangible form of expression (for example, choreographic works that have not been notated or recorded, or spontaneous  speeches or performances that have not been written or recorded)
  • Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring; mere listings of ingredients or contents
  • Ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes, concepts, principles, discoveries, or devices, as distinguished from a description, explanation, or illustration
  • Works consisting entirely of information that is common property and contains no original authorship (for example, standard calendars, height and weight charts, tape measures and rulers, and lists or tables taken from public documents or other common sources)