Copyright Overview

WHAT IS COPYRIGHT?

As a way of protecting the authors of original work, the U.S. Government created the U. S. Copyright laws (title 17, U.S. Code). It maintains that as soon as an original work is placed in a tangible form, it is copyrighted and becomes the property of the author. Just like a bicycle or a stereo, the author may sell his/her original work, give it away or exchange it for other considerations (such as for credit in a program, etc.). There are other rights affiliated with copyright. The author may do any of the following:

	Reproduce the work in copies or recordings;
	Prepare derivative works based upon the work;
	Distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;
	Perform the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
	Display the copyrighted work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and
	In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.

(U.S. Copyright Web Site, http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ1.html#wci)

WHAT CAN GET COPYRIGHTED?

Any "original work of authorship" may be copyrighted. It is not necessary to display copyright notifications on the work for the copyright to be enforceable. Copyrightable works can include any of the following categories:

	(1) literary works;
	(2) musical works, including any accompanying words
	(3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music
	(4) pantomimes and choreographic works
	(5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
	(6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works
	(7) sound recordings
	(8) architectural works

HOW LONG DO COPYRIGHTS LAST?

Since technology has changed so radically in the last 20 or 30 years, the copyright law has had to change along with it. However, let's deal with works created from January 1, 1978 until now: Any original work or expression that has been placed in a tangible from on or after January 1, 1978 will be copyrighted, and protected by copyright laws for 70 years after the author is dead. If a work is prepared by more than one person ("joint works"), the copyright runs out 70 years after the longest living partner dies.

DO I HAVE TO GET COPYRIGHT PERMISSION EVERY TIME I USE ANYTHING?

Not necessarily. As students and educators, we enjoy certain freedoms, such as The Fair Use Exception. For more information about it, press here.

ARE WORKS COPYRIGHTED FOREVER?

No. There is a specific period of time that a work is copyrighted. Then it enters Public Domain. For more information on Public Domain, Press here.