How to Research Copyright Law

Prior to 1989, the little © symbol was seen a lot more often than it is now. But things changed in 1989, and the symbol was not needed as often. However, the arguments about copyright law and what it protects have not stopped. With the growth of the Internet, they may have actually have increased. Read on to learn how to copyright a work.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Overview copyright basics at a website like Copyrightkids (see Resources below). Develop a sense of both sides of copyright, i.e., what you can and cannot do with someone else's work and how yours is protected.
2. Go to a comprehensive website and read about the Berne copyright convention of 1989. It was this convention that established the concept that a work is "copyrighted when completed."
3. Review the various ways that copyright law influences different kinds of work. Check websites for various disciplines like photography or commercial art and see how copyright law influences different disciplines.
4. Explore how copyright law relates to the creation of a website by reviewing any of the many websites that discuss this subject.
5. Research your own areas of concern. Universities have made available interactive instructional programs about copyright law for virtually every creative industry.