This Season
 
  • Federal copyright laws protect a writer's original work from unauthorized duplication and distribution. Narrow exceptions to copyright laws do exist. For example, educators may use copyrighted…

  • Politicians enter office with a set of core values and a defined policy agenda influenced by a combination of factors: the power of his or her party, the support of a popular mandate, economic…

  • Copyright on computer software has not always been clear. In the early days of computers, so few programs existed that copyright protection was not a necessity. However, the growth of a separate…

  • Poetry may be reprinted under certain conditions, as long as copyright law is followed and the author is properly credited for his work. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, poetry is a type of…

  • How assets are distributed to family and friends after death is a concern to most people. A will provides the means of controlling to whom real and personal property will go after the death of the…

  • Our world is saturated by media: music, movies, television, books, newspapers and more. Intellectual property law protects the creator or creators of such material and preserves the copyright.…

  • Creating a will helps ensure your final wishes are carried out after your death. The state of Nebraska has specific probate laws to protect the estates of decedents who die intestate (without the…

  • If teachers want to instill respect for copyrighted works, they must model appropriate behavior when it comes to sharing literature, film and music in the classroom. Several universities have taken…

  • As soon as your creative work has been reproduced in permanent form --- for example, published in a journal --- it is copyrighted. You are not required to formally copyright your creation. These…

  • Copyright law protects an original work of authorship as soon as it is reduced to a tangible medium, even without a copyright notice or federal registration. Although standard copyright law applies to…

  • The Creative Commons provides an alternative to highly restrictive "copyright" statements, falling under the more liberal "copyleft" school of licensing. Creative Commons licenses explicitly give…

  • Moral crimes involve acts against humanity or gross violation of moral code. In United States law, criminals can be punished more harshly for acts involving such moral turpitude. While moral conduct…

  • U.S. Copyright Law seeks to protect creators by giving them the right to profit from the works they have created. While many copyrighted works have been highlighted in recent years due to the ease…

  • Though ebooks may not have a physical form like hardcover or paperback books, it does not mean they aren't protected by copyright law just as other types of intellectual property are. In fact, they…

  • Courts today uniformly hold that copyright law is sufficiently broad to cover photographs, on the condition that they satisfy copyright's bedrock principle of originality. In practice, a…

  • Public moral crimes are also known as crimes of moral turpitude and typically are thought of as "vice" crimes that raise questions about the perpetrator's personal character and morality. Moral crimes…

  • Child custody battles are perhaps the ugliest part of a break up between parents. In the best of circumstances, parents put the best interest of the child ahead of any negativity between the two of…

  • There are many ethics codes that apply to research. In particular any type of research that uses human participation must be passed by an ethics committee. There are many codes that must be followed…

  • Copyright law protects original works of authorship for decades after the death of the author. The fair use doctrine is an exception to copyright law that allows anyone to use a small portion of a…

  • If you're the owner of the copyright of the book, you have the exclusive right to copy the book, prepare derivatives of the work, distribute the book and display the book as you so choose. If anyone…

  • When you produce a creative work such as an essay, poem, photograph or sculpture, copyright protection is automatic. No registration or copyright statement is required. The simple act of creating a…

  • When the original copyright on a piece of art or entertainment expires, the work in question enters into the public domain. This means that anyone can access, reproduce or do anything else with the…

  • Protecting your website under copyright can be tricky. Legally in the United States, any work you create for your website is under copyright as soon as you set it down in a tangible form. However,…

  • Reprinting an article can spark interest, establish creditability and improve readership for a publication or website. It can be less expensive to reprint an article than to hire a writer. This is…

  • Copyright laws protect infringement of intellectual property. Some of the things protected under copyright law include sound recordings, movies, written music and lyrics, books, poems, photographs and…

  • Copyright laws protect the creators of creative works from unauthorized use of their work without payment. In the digital age, many creators protect their work via contracts with a particular party or…

  • Instrumental music is protected by copyright laws. If you wish to use instrumental music that has been published and copyrighted, you may have to purchase a licence from both the copyright owner and…

  • According to 2006 to 2010 study conducted by Donald L. McCabe, co-founder of the Center for Academic Integrity, nearly 40 percent of undergraduate students have admitted to committing plagiarism by…

  • Are you thinking about becoming a landlord and starting a boarding house? A "boarding house" could be as simple as renting out a room in your house, or as complex as purchasing a separate house with…

  • Anti-dilution protection is typically used to protect shareholders who purchase stock in companies. The aim of such an agreement is to guard investors against potential financial losses if the company…

  • Blogs, social networks, information feeds and newsletters make information more accessible than ever before. With so much data instantly available, it's sometimes hard to filter out the noise and find…

  • In some instances, a musical composition or recording is in the public domain due to copyright expiration. Some composers, such as J.S. Bach, created their masterpieces prior to the advent of…

  • In the closing years of the 2000s, an epic financial collapse occurred worldwide. Some of this fallout can be traced back to the use of credit derivatives. Since this crisis, legal debates have…

  • Copyright programs aim to protect the intellectual property of artists, authors and inventors. These laws and amendments prohibit individuals from illegally obtaining published works and/or selling…

  • A standard recording release agreement outlines requirements for promotional and commercial use of copyrighted materials. A recording company, educational institution or non-governmental entity…

  • Conducting business through a website, either solely as an Internet company or as a sideline to a brick and mortar business, is a great way to generate revenue. Even though it can be lucrative, the…

  • A copyright paralegal holds the important position of coordinating copyrights. Researching, filing copyrights, and communicating closely with clients may all be part of a normal work day as a…

  • The history of the end-user license agreement began with the establishment of the "first-sale doctrine" in 1908. The Bobs-Merrill Company, a book publisher, unsuccessfully attempted to use copyright…

  • An oral (or verbal) contract is a legally recognized contract entered into with spoken words, and either no writing or a partial writing. It is because there is no writing that oral contracts can be…

  • The major revision of federal copyright law --- U.S. Code, Title 17 --- in 1976 expanded the list of technological materials whose creators control their use. While microfilm is not specifically…

  • In some situations, it's legal to use the name of a celebrity on a website, while in others it's against the law. If the name is not used to slander or make a profit, it's most likely legal to use a…

  • U.S. laws strictly control reproduction of currency, checks, bonds, stamps and securities. Reproducing U.S currency is permitted as long as its meets guidelines established by U.S law.

  • It is important to understand copyright laws before reproducing or displaying a copyrighted work without permission from the copyright's owner. Avoiding copyright infringement can spare a person from…

  • The Copyright, Design and Patent Act of 1988 is an intellectual property protection law in the United Kingdom. The act originally had implications for schools that required copyright permissions for…

  • While there are no international laws protecting digital copyrights, there are some international treaties that protect the work of member countries. The provisions of the Berne Convention of 1971…

  • The Commerce Compromise refers to a compromise between the Northern and Southern States during the Constitutional Convention as to how the federal government could regulate commerce, according to "The…

  • Color copiers are subject to certain provisions of copyright law. Users are not legally allowed to copy money or to photocopy any copyrighted material for non-personal or non-educational use.

  • A security agreement is a contract which provides lenders with a security interest in the form of holds and claims on property owned by the borrower. When a financial loan is backed up with a security…

  • Poems are protected by copyright laws just as are novels, nonfiction books and other intellectual property. Copyright laws can be complex and it can be hard to know if your intended purpose is legal…

  • People create masterpieces everyday. Understanding copyright ideas versus expression is crucial in protecting your work. Copyright protects original work that can be reprinted or communicated with the…

  • Works of art and writing that are displayed publicly on blogs can be susceptible to plagiarism. Protect your fiction blog by copyrighting your work. Registering with the United State's Copyright…

  • Free, over-the-air digital TV broadcast signals are currently not encrypted with copy protection encoding. This, however, does not mean that copyright rules do not apply to this type of broadcast…

  • Copyright law protects creators of original works from others distributing, reproducing or performing their work without permission. These laws and protections are found in the Copyright Act of 1976,…

  • Adults fnd copyright laws complex. To children growing up in a world in which the Internet has always existed, copyright law is even more difficult to explain. Sonia livingstone, author of "Kids…

  • Copyright infringement is a common problem, especially as digital media and formats develop. What may occur if a copyright infringer is caught varies depending upon the type of infringement, the type…

  • Intercoms have become an intimate part of modern-day life, being used everywhere from airports to shopping malls and health care facilities. As such, certain legal guidelines, typically differing by…

  • Title 17 of U.S. law defines copyright, both the copyright that inheres to a work automatically on its creation and the copyright that may be registered with the government. It covers "original works…

  • The United States Copyright Office is responsible for enforcing copyright laws, which govern how copyrighted materials, such as television programs, can be recorded. A major distinction is made…

  • A copyright security agreement is a written agreement where one person uses his copyrights or copyright licenses as security for the payment of a loan obligation. The owner of the copyrights agrees to…

  • Chile has become one of the most economically developed countries of South America. Before Brazil's massive leap forward aided by its handling of the 2008 global recession, Chile was widely considered…

  • Copyright law in the United States was implemented to encourage creativity by offering exclusive rights to original creators, authors and inventors. Works of art including fine art, pictures and…

  • Electronic copy is protected in the same ways as all other creative works in the United States, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. Electronic copy, such as software and digital media, has been a…

  • Copyright-law sites are useful resources for content creators, legal professionals, and professors. From the U.S. Copyright Office website to the university library, copyright-law sites answer…

  • When taking photographs of another person's property in the U.S., it is important to consider copyright laws to avoid potential legal troubles. As long as the photographer does not trespass on the…

  • The Constitution guarantees authors and inventors exclusive rights to their creations for a limited time. Laws that protect these rights are called intellectual property laws. One such law, the…

  • Copyright, patent and trademark laws are laws that fingerprint your identification on a product or design that you manufactured, invented or devised. These laws help protect your rights and legitimate…

  • Copyright is a form of intellectual property protection that allows authors and artists to protect original works that they have created. In the U.S., copyright law is contained in Title 17 of the…

  • The landmark 1984 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sony Corporation v. Universal City Studios (more widely known as the Betamax case) established the legality of home video recording. The court ruled…

  • A copyright is a group of rights to protect the original creation of literature, dramatic work, musical and artistic productions, known as intellectual property. In order to use material in any work…

  • In 2007, the U.S. Copyright Office created a new online registration system. The registration process, from application to filing individual works, now can be completed online. This decreases…

  • Africa is a large continent made up of states with vastly different economic and governmental systems. While international treaties like the Berne Convention have improved copyright protection across…

  • Globalization has greatly accelerated the rate at which new products are developed all over the world. In order to ensure that companies don't profit from an original designer's hard work,…

  • The Copyright Act of 1976, also known as copyright law, governs the reproduction and sale of intellectual property, including software such as Windows 7. While a person who purchased a program legally…

  • An artist often creates art from other objects. For example, Andy Warhol gained fame painting everyday items, some sculptors deal entirely in found items. Some artists wonder if they are violating…

  • As soon as an author creates something in tangible form---a poem, story, article, movie or musical score---the creation has copyright protection. Copyright protects the author's creations of text,…

  • China's copyright law was passed on September 7, 1990. It protects a creator's rights to control his original works. Pirating is a violation in which people illegally copy and distribute copyrighted…

  • United States laws provide a protection known as a copyright to authors of original works, including dramatic, musical and literary. Copyright gives authors the right to authorize others to use their…

  • The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works established a framework for international copyright laws, which are still in effect. It is an agreement among several countries…

  • Copyright law protects an author's original works from being copied, sold, distributed or displayed without permission. The works can be published or unpublished. A copyright exists as soon as a work…

  • Whether a person is a business owner, student, teacher, preacher or from another walk of life, it is always a good idea to know when and how to use other written sources without being in danger of…

  • DJs don't have to worry about creating music, just mixing other people's music in an appealing way. However, that doesn't disentangle them from intellectual copyright laws affected the music they are…

  • Establishments that rent DVDs are bound by federal law to follow certain rules and regulations. Equally, consumers who rent DVDs are also bound by laws, and those who violate these laws will be…

  • Remarkably accurate and finely detailed photocopy machines now reproduce images with incredible clarity. Perhaps you've been reading a high-gloss coffee table book about the collected works of…

  • Copyright protects original works, including photographs. The law requires that the photograph be original and not a picture of something that already exists. If a photographer takes a picture of a…

  • Copyright law protects intellectual property, the product of cognitive work, be it software or a piece of art or music. By implementing a copyright plan, you can protect your works from either being…

  • Copyright law is in place in the U.S. to protect creators of instructional videos and other intellectual property from those using the content of such intellectual property for their own gains without…

  • The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office protect intellectual property rights, such as the right of an author to control the publication and reproduction of his manuscript.…

  • Most countries enact some form of copyright law to protect the intellectual property of authors and creators. As technology advances and it becomes easier to distribute copyrighted works on a global…

  • A copyright refers to the legal protection of an original form of authorship. Copyright protection automatically occurs after a work is created. However, you can also formally register a work with the…

  • Copyright laws in the United States were created to protect the intellectual property of any person, including elements like authorship, musical, literary, architectural, pictorial, choreographic,…

  • Copyright law in the United States is simple in its basic principle, the assumption that the creator of a work has the right to give or withhold permission for its copying and distribution.…

  • Copyright laws protect the authors of books and other material by giving them the right to control the use of their work, and specifically the right to make, publish and distribute copies of it.…

  • Most computers come pre-loaded with a variety of different fonts, from Times New Roman to Comic Sans Serif. However, if you'd like to stand out from the crowd, you might want to download one of the…

  • Although many copyright issues are clear, in cases between artists and those who purchase or commission their art, things become a little more complicated. Artists and patrons need to understand…

  • Laws on use of copyrighted materials in classroom coursework can be confusing. While fair use, as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Revision Bill of 1976, allows for copies of copyrighted…

  • Regardless of the medium on which they are stored---CD, magnetic tape, phonograph or digitally---sound recordings are always protected by the same copyright laws. These laws restrict unauthorized…

  • In 1976, Congress created a single national system for the registration of copyrights, preempting the right of individual states to provide protection under state law. At that time, the Copyright Act…

  • A copyright gives a person legal rights over the work he or she creates, such as writings, artwork or music. Authors, composers, publishers and distributors often obtain the exclusive rights to…

  • The Copyright Act of 1976 prohibits reproducing or distributing a work without the copyright owner's permission. Digital files are included in the definition of "copies," placing them under the same…

  • Publishers in the United States and worldwide are facing enormous challenges in the area of intellectual property protection, according to the Association of American Publishers. The advent of the…

  • Indiana residents are subject to the copyright laws of the United States. As regards hardware, the design may be subject to copyright, but the function (what the hardware does) is not copyrightable,…

  • Mexico's modern copyright law was drafted in December 1996 and enacted March 24, 1997. It protects original works in many categories, including music, drama, literature, cinema, photography, art,…

  • If someone violates your copyright, you can sue the person or business for damages, among other remedies. You can be awarded actual damages and profits made by the copyright infringer or you can…

  • Copyright laws existed long before the Internet but cyberspace has made it all too easy to violate them---sometimes without realizing you are doing so. And the penalties can be serious. For example,…

  • The copyright laws of the United States grant automatic legal protection to "original works of authorship," whether the work is published or not. Copyright is automatic, at the time when a work is in…

  • The Copyright Act of 1976 is a complex set of laws governing the use of original works and the rights granted to their authors. There is much confusion and debate over the use of digital files, but…

  • What constitutes originality in a piece of work sometimes falls into a gray area where copyright laws are concerned. For any piece of creative work to have copyright protection, it must satisfy two…

  • Copyright laws exist to help creators defend their work from being exploited by others without their permission, and automatically extends to most creative endeavors, including art, movies, writing,…

  • The Copyright Act of 1976 generally prohibits copying and distributing original works, including video. The laws that surround digitizing video are varied, allowing it in some circumstances while…

  • Copyright law provides the owner of a copyright the exclusive right to reproduce, alter, distribute and perform the copyrighted work. This protection originates in the U.S. Constitution and is…

  • In the Netherlands, all creative work is protected by law. Dutch copyright also governs products derived from the original work, such as film scripts based on novels. No one is allowed to publish,…

  • Copyright laws are established to protect authors. English law set the precedent for US law, which Congress is authorized to set in the Constitution. International treaties also affect US copyright…

  • The hardest part of writing a book or song, or making a movie, can be deciding on a title. This task can be made even more difficult if there are legal challenges to using a particular title. Luckily,…

  • With the booming of social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, it has become much more convenient for anyone to upload and share personal photographs online. Unfortunately, such…

  • The Copyright Act of 1976, enacted by the 94th Congress, is a revision of the Copyright Law of the United States Code. Protection now extends to any authored work, created in any tangible medium known…

  • The Copyright Act gives an author the exclusive rights to his work, preventing others from selling, distributing, copying or performing it without his permission. Textbooks are also subject to…

  • The stock photography industry consists of existing photographs that are licensed to others by the copyright owner or the owner's agent. A photographer owns the copyright to pictures that he produces,…

  • Copyright laws in Korea are designed to protect the creative work of authors, artists and other creators, such as software programmers. In 2004, the copyright laws were modified to make it a criminal…

  • LimeWire, a peer-to-peer program that allows individuals to share files, is legal. However, many of the files shared through LimeWire are copyrighted, and thus cannot be legally shared.

  • Copyright laws protect an individual's intellectual properties from being used without authorization and/or compensation. Swiss copyright law concerns art forms such as books, paintings, music and…

  • One thing that distinguishes humans from other animals is their imagination and their minds' ability to create. There are four types of creations of the mind: inventions; trademarks or slogans;…

  • Online commerce offers a wealth of business opportunities, but Internet entrepreneurs need to be mindful of the laws that govern cyber transactions. The Federal Trade Commission regulates laws…

  • Copyright law protects the creators of written and recorded works, allowing them to earn income from the sale of their works and prohibiting unauthorized copying of these works. Copyright law is a…

  • English copyright right law dates back to 1709 with the Statute of Anne, considered the world's first law that protected a person's intellectual endeavors. Since that "first" copyright law--it only…

  • While the nation of Japan is home to a very ancient culture, artistic copyright law is a fairly recent concept. The first copyright law in Japan, the Berne Convention, was signed in 1899. This law…

  • The Copyright Act of 1976 established author rights and term durations, including terms for renewals. The primary legislation for copyright issues, the Copyright Act has undergone significant changes…

  • Copyrighted materials are protected under certain laws that limit their distribution and use by others without permission. To get the best protection for your material you should register the work…

  • Copyright laws protect the rights of authors, artists and other creators from those who might profit from their original work. While there are some instances where school theater departments may use…

  • Writers, musicians and filmmakers have a great deal of behind-the-scenes considerations to adhere to besides just creating their works. The legal aspects of creating, copyrighting and distributing…

  • Is a copyright still valid? The subject may come up if you are a writer and wish to incorporate another author's work into your own or if you are a musician and wish to rework an old tune or lyric.…

  • Most countries offer some sort of copyright protection for an author's work. In dealing with foreign works, most countries have agreed to one or more international copyright treaties and conventions,…

  • Video copyright protection laws have been in place for decades and have continued to remain an issue as technological advances allow users to illegally show, rent, copy and distribute licensed film…

  • Since 1922, the Motion Picture Association of America has helped to preserve American cinema by championing and advocating the rights of American film studios and preserving the image of the motion…

  • Copyright law provides photographers with the exclusive right to make, sell, distribute and display copies of their photographs. Anyone who wishes to use a copyrighted photograph must get permission…

  • Just because your computer has a disk recorder does not mean that you are entitled to copy anything you want. Making a backup copy for yourself may be allowed under copyright law, but only certain…

  • For many artists, their creative works are like their children. Helping artists protect their work are copyright laws relative to art and other creative work. Peter Vaughan Shaver, a Portland,…

  • German copyright law is enforced by laws passed by the German government and recorded in the German Copyright Act. The Holme Roberts & Owen legal website explains that German copyright rules have…

  • Oklahoma copyright law is overseen by the U.S. Copyright Office which protects creators of original material, from music to novels, against illegal duplication and other forms of infringement,…

  • The Internet and other technological advances have made it possible to find more information than ever, right at our fingertips. With so much information available to us, both online and off, it is…

  • When Congress passed the 1976 Copyright Act, it created exceptions for educators to use copyrighted material when teaching. These exceptions apply only to libraries and nonprofit schools.

  • The European Union member states have a uniform copyright legal system to protect original works of authorship. The system is derived from a series of EU directives that obligates member states'…

  • Economic Analysis of Law summarizes the work of Harvard Professor Steven Shavell, who has studied the intersection of law and economics for more than 35 years. It also is the title of a textbook…

  • Plagiarism has been an issue for as long as people have produced personal work. It wasn't until the 1970s that any formal copyright laws were introduced to protect the work of individuals. When laws…

  • Copyright law exists in the United States because it is a constitutional right. The Constitution provides that the United States Congress has the power to provide for the "general welfare" and promote…

  • Copyright law allows for the protection of creative product and ensures that businesses, musicians, writers, and others control ownership of their material. In the Caribbean, copyright is subject to…

  • The Uruguay Round Agreements Act passed the U.S. Congress in 1994. It approves the agreements made at the Uruguay Round negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The act also…

  • Copyright laws in Arkansas provide artists and those who employ them the right to ownership of intellectual property. This helps ensure that copyrighted works are not duplicated or sold without the…

  • Digitally downloading music has slowly but steadily gained speed as the preferred method of purchasing music in the United States. Copyright laws protecting an artist's music remain in effect for this…

  • Ghana’s current copyright law is Act No. 690 issued by the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. It was enacted on May 17, 2005, and replaced Parliament’s Act No. 110, the country’s…

  • Copyright law, grounded in the Constitution, is intended to protect “intellectual property.” Copyright applies to all work that is expressed in some tangible form, including art,…

  • When a portrait photograph is taken, a copyright on that photo is created by the photographer. Many times, however, the portrait is commissioned by the model, and in that case, the copyright is owned…

  • Intellectual property describes a broad range of creations, such as new inventions, designs, slogans, logos, art and literature. A copyright is a form of intellectual property protection granted to…

  • In business, it is crucial to understand the legal parameters of a transaction. Businesses that hire an independent contractor or require an employee work on a special project typically own the…

  • With digital encoding of music removing the need for tunes to be stored on a physical medium and the interconnectivity of the World Wide Web at your fingertips, it’s easy to boot up your…

  • The U.S. Copyright Office defines copyright registration as “a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright.” A copyright registration…

  • Copyright is a type of intellectual property law and a form of protection rooted in the U.S. Constitution for original works created in a concrete medium. The 1976 Copyright Act provides the basis for…

  • Increased piracy of motion pictures has led to a number of high profile cases such as those against file sharing websites. However, there are more minute aspects of copyright law that affect…

  • Companies, businesses and even people prize and protect their names. Corporations and manufacturers can spend thousands to devise the right name for their brands. Businesses owners spend hours coming…

  • The 1976 Copyright Act (Title 17, U.S. Code) was established to protect “original works of authorship” in both published and unpublished form. The law defines a derivative work as “a…

  • “Download Now!” buttons abound on the Internet, offering everything from games to Internet browsers to cellphone ring tones. However, anti-piracy and copyright protection notices also…

  • A software innovator may have to decide: copyright or patent? One of the considerations in that decision is the extent to which one form of protection or the other actually does protect.

  • The Copyright Act is contained in Title 17 of the United States Code. When a creator copyrights his work, he is granted several exclusive rights set forth in Section 106 of the Copyright Act. They…

  • In today’s world of widespread digital interactivity, the expectation of unlimited free access to information comes into conflict with the efforts of writers, artists and programmers to protect…

  • The import of Digital Information Copyright Law is summed up in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which was signed into law in the U.S. on Oct. 28, 1998. The DMCA has been supported by the…

  • Information and images are easily copied between various websites, which could lead to copyright infringement. To avoid accidentally illegally infringing on the rights of someone else's work, Web…

  • Iowa is subject to the laws and codes set forth by the United States government pertaining to intellectual property and copyright discussions. For Iowa residents, the national government provides…

  • The Copyright Act, set forth in Title 17 of the U.S. Code, describes the kinds of works that can be copyrighted. Section 102 states that original, “tangible” works may be eligible for…

  • Multimedia projects are covered under U.S. copyright law the same way other documents, audio recordings, video recordings, and images are protected. Pieces of the multimedia project may be copyrighted…

  • Copyrights generally grant an author the exclusive right to reproduce, sell, promote, distribute or adapt an artistic, dramatic, musical or literary work, film or sound recording. The international…

  • Although President Bill Clinton signed the Digital Millenium Copyright Act into law in 1998, original works have always enjoyed the same legal protections in cyberspace as they have in the tangible…

  • Copyright is a Constitutionally recognized property right of an author to control the reproduction of his intellectual creation. Copyright laws provide legal means to protect that right when the work…

  • It is legal in the United States and United Kingdom to record live TV for personal use. In U.S. law, recording TV programs for later viewing is protected under "Fair Use." It is legal to physically…

  • Copyright law in the United States can be a frustrating issue for all interested parties, including Internet-savvy consumers, companies that survive on the sale of copyrighted goods and the artists…

  • Patterns fall into the same category as other still images such as clip art, photographs, paintings and drawings when it comes to copyright law. Images and other intellectual property are protected…

  • Title 17 of the U.S. Code deals with copyright and intellectual property law. As it pertains to graphics, copyright law classifies still images such as drawings, paintings and photographs fall into…

  • Malaysian copyright law is strong and reflects current international copyright protection norms. Malaysia is a signatory to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Berne Convention…

  • Copyright is legal protection for the ownership of intellectual property. It applies to any medium and prohibits the reproduction of copyright-protected work without the permission of the owner. It…

  • Embroiderers and hobbyists who buy, find and share embroidery designs with each other are unknowingly breaking copyright law. While legally you have to buy the originals of designs, you get the…

  • Copyright law began in 1710 with the Statute of Ann in England, which was designed to protect booksellers and printers. (See Reference 1). The founders of the United States granted copyright…

  • Copyright laws protect the creators of an artistic or scholarly work and are meant to give artists and authors a financial incentive to create. The Internet makes it easier and quicker for people to…

  • DVDs are protected under U.S. copyright laws that protect the rights of authors and artists. Copyright laws have changed over the years and continue to change as new media emerge. These federal laws…

  • Copyright laws were created by the U.S. Constitution and have been undergoing changes ever since. However, the main intent is to protect original works from being exploited by others without…

  • The United Kingdom's copyright law protects a variety of original works. Copyright law grants several rights to creators and limits how a protected work may be used without the creator's permission.…

  • Copyright laws allow authors of original works exclusive right to use, perform and sell their creations. If someone violates someone else's copyrights that violation can sometimes be a crime. In the…

  • Copyright protections are specific legal rights granted by law to original works of authorship. These laws are based both on constitutional protections and other federal laws, and allow creators of…

  • The American Psychological Association (APA) prints numerous reference books and journals that scholars and journalists frequently wish to cite. The APA permission policies for copyrights state that…

  • Sweden's Copyright Act was approved in 1960 and has been amended several times since. It is intended to protect the rights of creators with regard to their works. As with the copyright law in many…

  • Copyright laws help authors and creators protect the rights to their works. If a creative work has been copyrighted, other people cannot copy or reuse it for their own benefit, with some exceptions.…

  • Regarding political parody and copyright laws, there is a specific exception in copyright law that contemplates the fair use doctrine, which allows another author or creator to mock a piece of work…

  • The best resource for copyright laws is the Web site for the United States' copyright office, which is copyright.gov. Obtain the services of a copyright lawyer for information on laws of copyright…

  • While there is not a section of law dealing exclusively with audio books, this form of intellectual property is still subject to many of the same laws as regular print media. Because audio books also…

  • Copyright laws in the United States can be somewhat tricky to navigate and understand, but things can become even more complicated when delving into international copyrights. Every nation will have…

  • The Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a proposed agreement between a number of countries to improve enforcement of infringement against intellectual property rights (IPRs). The agreement…

  • With the rise of the Internet constantly facilitating ways for people to copy music, film and other copyrighted material, it is important to know exactly where the law stands on the matter. New…

  • Copyright is a bundle of rights that allow the owner of a work to reproduce, distribute or perform his work and takes effect as soon as the work is created. As the author, composer, inventor or…

  • While there is no single international copyright law, many countries have agreed to international rules for protecting intellectual property from copyright infringement, piracy and counterfeiting. The…

  • TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) is an international treaty negotiated as part of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) meeting in 1994. TRIPS was revisited…

  • Russia passed a new copyright law in 1993, replacing the Soviet code and bringing the copyright regime in the country into line with international norms. Russia amended the law in 2006 to include…

  • There are specific clauses in U.S. copyright laws to allow teachers to show DVDs in the classroom without having to obtain a license, provided the DVD is legal and is presented by the teacher for…

  • The copyright statute in Italy, or Law No. 633 of April 22, 1941, is designed to protect the intellectual property of individuals. There have been several amendments to the law as technology has…

  • Copyright allows artists to exclusively reproduce the content they create and sell copies at their discretion. Copyright infringement has been a controversial issue for centuries. One ongoing…

  • Copyright laws are important to provide rights to creators and to protect against misuse of copyrighted works. Japan's copyright laws define whose works are protected, as well as the kinds of works…

  • In the 1800s, there were no computer-controlled embroidery machines. All embroidery was done by hand, and designs were freely copied and created. Today, things are far different. Computer-controlled…

  • Copyright law as it applies to yearbook images carries the same protections that are given to other works. These laws protect the rights of publishers and photographers to ensure that work is not…

  • Modern copyright law, as well as other intellectual property right regulations, is set by several international organizations. The two principal organizations involved in crafting copyright standards…

  • In order to understand copyright law in the United States, you must be familiar with the Copyright Act of 1976. This act illustrates how copyright ownership is determined and also sets rules for…

  • Protection of intellectual property is essential for any artist, writer, business or media outlet. No matter the material, these groups or people have the right to register their art or material for a…

  • Following literary copyright laws is important for writers, researchers, professors and any other person who intends to use someone else's work in part or whole for their own purposes. Understanding…

  • Thailand models its intellectual property protections after the protocols, agreements and treaties set out by the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization. However,…

  • U.S. copyright law protects creative works of various kinds, including books, movies, songs, and artwork. Copyright law is complex and has changed many times over the years. As a result, many…

  • A painting is considered a work of visual art, and a painter has the same exclusive rights under U.S. Copyright law as writers or musicians. A painter also has moral rights only accorded to creators…

  • IP, or intellectual property, refers to the intangible property that arises from an individual's creativity. This includes ethereal works such as literature, lyrics, designs, slogans, phrases,…

  • The United States Copyright Law states that the holder of a copyright has the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute their copyrighted material. All other parties must get permission in the form…

  • Since the advent of digital photography, the boundaries have been blurred between fair use and copyrights. Many people unknowingly may include pictures on their social networks or websites without the…

  • A copyright is a legal mechanism designed to protect the creator of an original artistic work. In the United States, copyright law applies to creations such as books, music, and plays. Television…

  • Using copyrighted materials is always a sticky subject. Some uses of copyright can be described as "fair use" while other uses can land you in court. However, even fair use is debatable as there…

  • Copyright applies to original works of authorship when they are fixed in any tangible medium of expression. The author of the work owns the copyright, which can be transferred to others. Generally,…

  • The notion of protecting what's collectively referred to as intellectual property is known as copyrighting---laws that protect the author's or creator's rights to prevent their work from being copied…

  • Copyright laws protect original works from illegal use of the author's intellectual property. Often, these laws are misunderstood, causing them to sometimes be infringed unintentionally. To fully…

  • The U.S. Constitution empowers the legislative branch of the federal government to enact laws "securing for limited times to authors ... the exclusive right to their respective writings." Title 17 of…

  • The United States' Copyright Act is federal law that protects a creator's original works. Copyright law is set forth in Title 17 of the U.S. Code and governs what works are copyrightable, the rights…

  • Since 1978, creative works have copyright protection from the moment of creation rather than from the date they are first published. Although unpublished work is protected by copyright, publication…

  • A copyright owner in the United States has the right to designate who may or may not reproduce any portion of his work except for "fair use." According to Nolo's legal encyclopedia, "under the 'fair…

  • Making fun of celebrities, politicians and other aspects of our culture is a practice that is practically considered a birthright. Parody is a method of laughing at ourselves and at the same time…

  • Patent and Copyright Laws protect the intellectual property rights of inventors and creators. Inventions are protected by patent laws and copyright laws protect both published and unpublished creative…

  • Many aspiring Weird Al Yankovics have pondered the legal consequences of parodying a popular song. They may know that copyright laws protect artists from having someone else make money from their…

  • Most people who have a number of published, written works have been introduced to the concept of copyright protection at some point in the publishing process. This provides legal protection to the…

  • Copyright violation, sometimes referred to as piracy of intellectual property, is a serious and widespread crime. While copyright piracy has been going on for decades, the ease with which copyrighted…

  • Software copyright law provides protection for the original works of artists. The copyright goes into effect from the moment the person creates the software. It receives instant recognition as the…

  • A blog is a web-based collection of text, images and other media. Most blogs are maintained by one "blogger" and are arranged in chronological posts of information. Blog content usually fits into a…

  • Copyright provides protection to creators of materials in a tangible or fixed form. Any tangible form of expression may be copyrighted. This includes but is not limited, to plays, essays, original…

  • Most people don't realize that something they have written or a song they have created is automatically protected with a copyright from the time they complete the work. Formal copyright registration…

  • Copyright rules apply to blogs the same way they apply to other collections of written works such as short stories or books of poetry. Since current technology makes it very easy to syndicate, or…

  • Poetry is protected by copyright laws that cover various forms of literary works. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, individual poems may be copyrighted, or a collection of poems may be…

  • Copyright law is a way for an author to protect his work from being stolen, used or sold without his permission. Copyright protection is actually granted the moment an author creates a tangible and…

  • When discussing both copyright and emulators at the same time, it is usually in a conversation about video games. A potential copyright issue might involve video gamers trying to find a workaround…

  • Copywrite laws in the United States are governed by the federal government. However, according to the U.S. Copywrite Office website, no international copyright law will protect an author's writing…

  • A copyright violation occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, in whole or in part, without the permission of the copyright holder. This can take many forms, from using characters from your…

  • While you cannot copyright ideas, facts, titles and names according to Title 17 of the U.S. Code, there is copyright protection for "authors of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other…

  • In 1902, Abigail Roberson walked to downtown Rochester New York, where she was surprised and embarrassed to find her picture on posters advertising Franklin Mills Flour. The posters were placed in…

  • Intellectual property is an area of law that covers a number of doctrines. Copyright, trademark, patent, trade-secret and right of publicity are all parts of intellectual property law, each with their…

  • Copyright law gives creators the exclusive right to distribute, sell and perform their creative products. This exclusive right is subject to the fair use privilege, which allows copying of…

  • Copyright law is critical to the the entertainment industry because it is the only assurance artists have that their work will not be misappropriated by someone else, thereby depriving the artists of…

  • Books, magazines, trade journals and newspapers are all considered published works. According to United States copyright laws, a published piece of work is protected from copyright infringement;…

  • Digitizing library collections helps create archives of information that last long after books on paper have disintegrated, but digital copying also creates legal implications under the U.S. Copyright…

  • Television programs are among the many creative works protected under U.S. copyright law. This means that owners of television program copyrights may exclude others from using or reproducing their…

  • U.S. copyright law covers a logo designer's rights to her design. The rights follow those of other graphic works and share the same exceptions. While copyright infringement in the field of graphic…

  • In the United States, copyrights are protected under two different acts. These include the Copyright Act of 1976 and the newer Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. Together, these acts lay out a…

  • Any creative, original work recorded to DVD can get copyright protection. Copyright protection and enforcement for DVDs focuses primarily on unauthorized, or pirated, copying. While individual…

  • International copyright law has been created through several treaties, allowing creators to have copyright protection in any of the countries that have signed the treaties. The treaties were created…

  • Copyright laws in the United States protect authors and their works from being misrepresented as someone else's works. A written work that is copyrighted gives the owner of the copyright exclusive…

  • Embroidery designs are protected under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. Under this act, any creative work is protected by copyright laws at the moment of creation, regardless of whether the creator…

  • Architectural copyrights offer design protections, but they have been available only since 1990 and carry specific restrictions. Architects and architecture firms should familiarize themselves with…

  • In general, copyright law protects the original work of authors. The author has the right to register and copyright the work with the Copyright Office and file a lawsuit against any person who…

  • Copyright law is designed to protect the authors of creative works, such as novels, songs and movies, from the unauthorized reproduction or other use of their created material. Ideas may not be…

  • Copyright infringement is a "hot topic," particularly with the proliferation of information available on the Internet and elsewhere. While usually seen in the context of music industry lawsuits,…

  • Filmmakers and other artists are often confronted with questions about intellectual property and copyright laws. Copyrighting material is often an important process for anyone creating intellectual…

  • Copyright laws for photos are designed to grant the original creator of photographic works a series of exclusive rights pertaining to the commercial benefit derived from their creation. Title 17 of…

  • Copyright is a legal right enshrined in national laws of most countries and through international treaties to provide control of original works to their creator. Since the basic laws predate computers…

  • Copyright law protects creator's rights. If music is copyrighted, only the owner has the right to make copies and sell his music. Illegal downloading and music piraters are now being criminally and…

  • Copyright law applies in many different ways to music, including the recording and composition of the entire work. Copyrights on music compact discs or CDs, pose additional hurdles as to the…

  • Title 17 in the United States Code provides the general framework for our modern copyright laws based on the Copyright Act of 1976. While numerous amendments have been made to help keep abreast of…

  • Copyright law extends to all creative works, including video games. Copyright law touches many aspects of a game, but not necessarily everything. Only the expression of an idea is protected by…

  • Copyright law protects creative works, including music, and does not allow a person to make unauthorized copies and give them away.

  • Copyright law defines what works are offered copyright protection. There are eight categories of protected works. Additionally, copyright protection grants to the creator several rights and includes a…

  • Using quality photography on website designs is the best way to get the complete, professional look that most businesses desire. The copyright of any photo is owned by the photographer who took that…

  • Copyright law protects a creator of literature, photographs and creative art works from losing ownership of that intellectual property. The intent of the law is allow the creators of any work an…

  • A copyright is a legal protection afforded to intellectual property that is considered an original creative work. Examples of works that have copyrights are music, movies, literature, poetry, and…

  • If you are a creative professional of any type---musician, songwriter, artist, photographer, illustrator---it is imperative that you understand copyright and licensing laws. Understanding these laws…

  • Copyright law is an intellectual property law that protects stories, songs, movies, art and other forms of intellectual property. Copyright takes effect as soon as a work is created and is indicated…

  • Artists put not only hard work and time into their creations, but heart and soul as well. When that work is used without permission or payment, it hurts---and it's illegal. Copyright gives the creator…

  • It is true that many of the most commonly used products were once an idea in the mind of some innovator. However, being a commonality does not make a copyright frivolous.

  • Copyrighted materials can generally be used only by purchasing copies of the work or by obtaining permission from the copyright holder. However, the "fair use" exception allows limited use of…

  • Copyright laws protect creators of works of authorship. Copyright laws provide the creator the rights to be the sole person to use, sell, perform or, more generally, profit from the work's creation.

  • Copyright law is complicated, but in simple terms, the creator of the copyrighted work owns the rights to that work. This is called intellectual property. Two parts of music, lyrics and melody can be…

  • Bartenders can often come up with a new drink and claim it as their own, but copyright laws in the United States put a chill on legally recognizing that claim.

  • There are two reasons you may want to copyright a business plan. One is that you describe an approach or technique that you fear could be copied and used by competitors. The other is that your…

  • Greeting cards can be an ideal way to keep in touch with your company's clients, especially when there is a holiday approaching. Maybe you've already found the perfect cartoon or photo to use, but…

  • It may be convenient and far more cost-effective to copyright several similar works as a single item when registering your work with the United States copyright office. Doing this is not a complicated…

  • While copyright laws for film are the same as copyright laws for any intellectual property, understanding the way those laws are applied to film can be a little trickier than with other forms of…

  • The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1998. One of its provisions forbids the circumvention of technological anti-piracy measures built into commercial…

  • The term "manga" derives from Japanese and is loosely used to refer to the special style of comics produced by Japanese artists. There are no copyright laws that apply exclusively to manga comics.…

  • Intellectual copyright (or simply "copyright"), a type of intellectual property law, refers to the protection of original published and unpublished "works of authorship" by federal law of the United…

  • Oral contracts do carry legal weight. Courts enforce them when they can. The problem they face is deciding which version of the verbal agreement to uphold. Copyright cases in this respect can prove…

  • Some people think copyright laws don't hold as much weight on the Internet as they do in the traditional printed world. They're wrong. Copyright laws apply equally to publishing on the Web as they do…

  • You have created an original work, and want to protect your creation with a copyright. Works that can be copyrighted include: books, articles, staged works, music and lyrics, films, broadcasts,…

  • In the United States copyrights have generally been governed by federal law. Title 17 of the U.S. Code, sometimes known as the Copyright Act of 1976 (the "Copyright Act"), is the most important body…

  • Federal copyright law determines what creative works are allowed protection. The law defines the rights that come with copyright protection, as well as the remedy if you feel someone has improperly…

  • Copyright law protects the exclusive use of an artistic or creative work by the copyright holder, who is not always the author or creator of the work. Copyright law enables others to use a portion of…

  • Copyright law gives artists the ability to protect their original works from being reproduced, sold or used without their consent. The Constitution gives Congress the power to establish copyright…

  • Understanding fair use exceptions relevant to copyrighted materials used in the classroom helps avoid illegal copyright violations, and helps students develop respect for the intellectual property…

  • Copyright law faces major challenges keeping up with technological advancement. Although there is no separate body of copyright law created specifically to cover technological works, the application…

  • Copyright law applies to anyone who creates a work of authorship and anyone who wishes to use such a work. It is important to understand its various components in order to protect your work and to…

  • Before home video technology, many people didn't think about film copyright laws. Now, technology allows people to copy films in ways that may violate the copyright owner's rights. DVD bootlegs of…

  • Copyright is a form of protection granted to authors of original works. The copyright gives the author exclusive rights over his or her work, with certain limitations.

  • Copyright laws on the illegal use of software are covered under Section 117 of the Copyright Act. The law is intended to protect software organizations and developers from the unauthorized use of…

  • MP3 files might live exclusively in the digital world, but the same copyright rules that apply to books, paintings and compact discs still apply.

  • Governments enact copyright laws to encourage creators to invest their time in creating artworks. Governments also enter into international agreements to protect their citizens' copyright in other…

  • Cookbook publishing is affected by a number of laws, including copyrights, contracts, torts and taxation. The legal issues surrounding cookbook publishing may include the author rights, publisher…

  • The U.S. Copyright Office protects people's original works. The copyright law is found in Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The law defines what kind of works can be copyrighted, as well as the rights…

  • A recipe is a list of ingredients with directions for preparing or arranging them to get a particular outcome. It is most often used in cooking, but can also be used in such areas as craft mixtures.…

  • A copyright is a bundle of rights, normally possessed by the creator of an artistic work, that allow the creator the exclusive use of---and right to profit from---the work for a period of time…

  • Copyright law is widely misunderstood, not only by the general public but often by lawyers as well. In order to understand copyright law it is necessary to understand why copyrights are granted in the…

  • A copyright is a set of legally enforceable rights protecting an original work of authorship. A trademark is a set of legally enforceable rights protecting a design, symbol, phrase or word (or…

  • You've stayed up all night and created the world's greatest superhero since Superman. He's got powers to fight the forces of evil, but you're not sure if he's capable of fending off copyright…

  • If you wish to quote from a copyrighted work, you may need permission from the copyright holder, and you may have to pay for this permission. An exception to copyright protection known as "fair use"…

  • A copyright protects a creator's rights with respect to literary and other creative works. Copyright law is fairly standardized worldwide, and international protection is available. Nevertheless, the…

  • Although copyright laws vary from nation to nation, in most respects the law is standardized. Copyright law is designed to protect the rights of the holder of the copyright (initially the creator in…

  • The lyrics, or words, are one of the three parts of a song that receives a copyright. The two other parts are the musical accompaniment and the audio recording of the song.

  • Copyright laws and procedures on portraits vary depending upon several factors, including the medium (such as painting or photography), whether the subject posed for the portrait or if it was…

  • The history of copyrighting began in Britain with the book "Anno Octaro Annae Reginae," subtitled "an act for the encouragement of learning, by vesting the copies of printed books in the authors or…

  • "Copyright" is a word, and "copywrite" is sort of a word, but they have different meanings and are often confused. If you have trouble distinguishing between these homophones, there are ways to…

  • A copyright is a set of legal rights protecting the exclusive use of a creative work, generally of an artistic nature. It is distinguished from a patent in the sense that patents protect inventions of…

  • Copyright law protects creative works, generally of an artistic nature. By contrast, patent law protects inventions based on scientific knowledge. Although copyright legislation has been modified over…

  • Title 17 of the U.S. Code contains federal copyright laws. The subject matter and scope of a copyright are described in Chapter one, sections 106 to 122. A violation of the exclusive rights granted in…

  • If you are the author of a creative work, your common law rights begin from the time your work is set in fixed form. Registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, however, is a way to give…

  • A copyright is a form of legal protection for creative works that allows the holder the exclusive right to control who can use, distribute, sell, publish, copy or create derivatives of the work.…

  • A copyright is a legal protection restricting the publication, distribution and adaptation of an original work for a certain period of time. Although copyright law varies by country, international…

  • Copyright law in the digital age is continually evolving to protect the exclusive rights of copyholders of digital media and art forms that can be transferred through digital means. However, the heart…

  • U.S. copyright laws dictate how certain works, including photographs, can be used by people who didn't create them. The laws protect creators' rights to publish and sell their photos and prohibit…

  • The purpose of federal copyright laws is spelled out in the U.S. Constitution, which authorizes Congress "to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited times to Authors…

  • Ideas and concepts for jewelry, no matter how original, are not protected by United States intellectual property law. Original jewelry designs may be protected by both copyright and patent law. In…

  • Making personal copies of material that is protected by someone else's copyright is a murky part of the law. Under the "fair use" doctrine there should be some protections, but powerful lobbies for…

  • U.S. copyright law has a rich, long tradition. Current law has roots in the U.S. Constitution's Patent & Copyright Clause, which acknowledged that authors and inventors held exclusive rights to their…

  • Just as state laws establish penalties including fines and jail terms for those charged with driving under the influence of alcohol of other substances, copyright law is not enforced until a person is…

  • Copyright infringers may want to tread carefully, as penalties for violating copyright laws can be quite severe. Those found guilty of infringing the exclusive rights of a copyright holder by copying…

  • A violation of copyright law is known as "infringement." Many copyright holders file suit against accused infringers in federal court simply to cease the infringing activity. However, if infringement…

  • A copyright allows the author of an original work to obtain exclusive rights over the publication, distribution and adaptation of that work for a period of time that often exceeds the author's…

  • A copyright is a form of legal protection that allows the author of an original work and his/her heirs to enforce exclusive rights over publication, distribution and adaptation for a certain period of…

  • Current federal law grants authors of creative works copyright protection from the time their work is first created in fixed form rather than the date it is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.…

  • Many people don't realize that the 50 cents they spend on their daily newspaper doesn't mean they own the paper's contents. Everything published in a newspaper--from the smallest snippet to the…

  • You're about to be amazed at how easy it is to copyright a paper. In fact, the hardest part might be writing the paper. So, what is even more amazing? You can copyright a paper someone else wrote.…

  • It is important to understand that there is a distinct difference between the process for copyrighting and registering a copyright. In the United States, a copyright exists in an completed work…

  • A copyright attorney is a lawyer who specializes in copyright law--the law governing an author's or creator's exclusive right for a limited time regarding that work. Copyright attorneys frequently…

  • The TiVo digital video recorder is used all across the country to allow the user to conveniently watch shows when it fits his schedule. However, the recording and fast-forwarding of…

  • Copyright laws have existed since 1790. Digital technology seems to make it increasingly difficult to administer copyright protection especially in the case of audio works; however, the law is the…

  • The ever-increasing and common usage of quality, affordable digital cameras has flooded the media environment with photographic imagery. The business realm of photography has shifted from a seemingly…

  • The right of the federal government to protect original works of authorship comes out of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. In order to promote the arts, the U.S. Congress is empowered to…

  • If you have ever heard a good song on the radio or have seen a piece of good art and wanted to use it for a publicly viewed project, you might want to see if it is copyrighted. If the work belongs to…

  • Although U.S. law states an "automatic copyright" applies once a work is created in a fixed medium, a formal copyright creates a public declaration of ownership for work of an artistic or intellectual…

  • People who want to profit from their creative labors need to protect their works and their marketable values. A copyright gives creators exclusive rights to their creations, as well as the ability to…

  • The theory behind copyrights is that protecting the rights of authors and the creators of other original forms of expression helps them realize the financial worth of their creations, and thus…

  • The Internet has exponentially increased the volume of intellectual property. Writers, musicians and artists of all types have long sought to protect their creations from exploitation and with good…

  • Student-produced yearbooks are subject to the same copyright laws as other publications. It is vital for advisors and yearbook staff members to be aware of the regulations for what can and cannot be…

  • You've finally done it; you've penned your first novel, poem or short story. Now, you must copyright your original creative material so that nobody else can claim authorship of your work. It's easier…

  • Federal law provides authors protection of copyrighted material. To be copyrighted, a work must be original, in fixed or tangible form and be a work of authorship. Making unauthorized copies of…

  • The federal Copyright Act of 1976 currently governs duration of copyrightable material. The act in its entirety is a form of protection against infringement granted to authors of original works or…

  • A copyright is a form of protection granted to authors and creators of original works, including literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, as well as computer software. An author's rights arise…

  • The federal Copyright Act of 1976 provides protection against infringement to authors of original works or authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and certain other works, as long…

  • There are two common myths about copyrights. One is that registration is required. This is not the case. The US Copyright Office recommends registration for two reasons. First, registration legally…

  • Ideas, concepts, methods and systems are great to have but if you don't want others to use them, keep the works to yourself because they cannot be copyrighted. Why? They are intangible; they cannot be…

  • The purpose of a copyright is to provide easy access to legal documentation that proves who the creator of a piece is. Therefore, copyright law can be used to protect multiple types of physical works…

  • A derivative work is not an original work, but something that was previously published. Look at the Web site for the United States copyright offices with tips from a certified civil mediator in this…

  • When learning about collective work under copyright law, check out the definition provided at www.copyright.gov. Put together and copyright a collection of poems that share a common theme with tips…

  • Work made for hire under copyright law involves a person that has created an idea or invention and works for an employer. Learn how to copyright a commercial jingle with tips from a certified civil…

  • A copyright helps to protect the original creative works of an author or artist. Every creative work that is published is copyrighted upon publication whether a copyright is registered or not.…

  • A copyright law is a legal protection provided to the original author, musician, or artist. It covers works including plays and dramas, books, songs and recordings, architecture, motion pictures and…

  • United States law recognizes two broad areas of copyright fraud. One type involves the unlawful, commercial distribution of intellectual property to which the seller does not hold rightful…

  • Copyrights support a capitalist economy by helping the creators of original forms of expression receive the beneficial advantages of their work. The Copyright Office at the Library of Congress is…

  • Students are often faced with copyright laws when they least expect them. What may seem like borrowing to a student is actually breaking the law. From music, to multimedia, film, literature and…

  • The United States copyright law gives protection to the authors of original works of authorship. These works include words, software, photographs, music, sound, dance and architecture. Copyright law…

  • Obtaining a copyright on an unpublished book will give you exclusive rights to your literary work. This means that only you will have the right to reproduce the work, distribute or sell the work, or…

  • When a copyright is violated, a copyright holder can ask a court of law to grant an injunction against an individual or entity that is infringing on a copyright. A copyright holder can also seek…

  • Jamaican copyright laws cover original literary, dramatic and artistic works. Copyright laws in the country will cover sound recordings, films and broadcasts of cable programs. And their laws extend…

  • British residents who create art for public consumption may encounter comedians and writers parodying their work. British copyright holders are protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of…

  • A copyright will help to protect a poem, a story or a software package. Discover how federal law administers copyrights with help from a certified civil mediator in this free video on law and legal…

  • It's impossible to copyright a name, and many people confuse copyrights with trademarks. Find out how to have a name trademarked with help from a certified civil mediator in this free video on law and…

  • The best way to protect your creativity -- stuff like writing, photos, music, clever titles, names, websites, business ideas, software and other creative output -- is with copyright, which you can do…

  • Copyright is proof of authorship and legal protection for the creators of artistic works, including visual artwork. According to the 1976 Copyright Act and the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990,…

  • Publication rights encompass a broad range of legal and academic protections for writers. Writers can protect their publication rights through negotiating better contracts, copyrighting their work and…

  • Peer-to-peer (P2P) software allows users around the world to share files and information without relying on a centralized server. This type of software has been used by governments, businesses and…

  • Television shows are downloaded illegally when they are transferred from person to person online without the express written consent of the copyright owner. This problem has existed since the…