Copyright
Copyright Basics
Overview of U.S. Copyright Law (scroll down for this informaiton)
The term "copyright" actually refers to a bundle of rights created and protected by federal statute.
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that provides model licenses and support for the open sharing of creative resources.
Resources and definitions.
Information for Instructors
Use of copyrighted material in the classroom generally falls under two different areas: displaying and copying.
Online Classes and the TEACH Act
The TEACH Act, passed in 2002, updates existing copyright law to address the issue of displaying copyrighted material in digital classroom settings.
Best practices for using video in physical and online settings.
Some Common Classroom Use Scenarios
Several common scenarios that seem to crop up fairly frequently.
Information for Authors
Copyright and Scholarly Communication
Scholarly communication and intellectual property ownership issues.
Information for Students
A collection of resources for students on copyright, plagiarism, and citation.
Overview of U.S. Copyright Law
The term "copyright" actually refers to a bundle of rights created and protected by federal statute (17 U.S.C. § 101 et.seq). It includes the exclusive rights to reproduce, sell, distribute, perform, display, and license the original work or derivative works. The owner of these rights can give away, sell, or license any or all of them on either a temporary or permanent basis.
What can be copyrighted?
Original works "fixed" in a tangible medium (e.g., paper, canvas, magnetic tape, digital recording, etc.) may be copyrighted including:
Literary works
Musical works, including any accompanying words
Dramatic works, including any accompanying music
Pantomimes and choreographic works
Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural work;
Motion picture and other audiovisual works
Sound recordings
Architectural works
You CANNOT copyright an idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery. (However, some of these might be patentable.)
How can a copyright for an original work be obtained?
It is essential to understand that copyrights are now automatically conferred by law at the moment the work is "fixed." An infringer may be enjoined from publishing the work even without any formal notice of copyright. However, prior notice and registration with the U.S. Copyright Office are necessary in order to sue an infringer for damages and attorneys fees. The preferred notice is given by affixing the copyright symbol ["©","(c)", "Copr."], date of first publication, and name of the work's owner.
How long does a copyright last?
The duration of a copyright varies greatly depending on the year in which it was created or published. The law has been amended several times, most recently in October of 1998. Currently, a copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. If the work is created for someone else (a "work made for hire") or if it is anonymous or pseudonymous (i.e., a pen name), it lasts for 95 years from the year of first publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever expires first. Publication includes loaning, leasing, selling, or giving away copies of the work.
Once a copyright expires, the work enters the "public domain" and may be used freely by anyone. The author may also put the work into the public domain before expiration of the statutory period by expressly saying so.
For more information, see this chart from Cornell University.
What are the penalties for copyright infringement?
The penalties include payment of actual damages, costs and attorneys fees, fines of up to $100,000 (for willful violations) and, in egregious cases, criminal prosecution leading to imprisonment for up to 5 years.
For more information on this subject, see Cyberspace Law for Non-Laywers.
Copyright Exemptions for Libraries
Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law offers certain exemptions to libraries, creating something of an extension of the fair use provisions in limited cases.
Libraries and archives may make up to three copies (in analog or digital format) of any unpublished work for purposes of preservation and security or for deposit in another repository for research purposes. These copies cannot be made available outside the library or archives, cannot involve a profit motive, and must include a copyright notice.
Libraries and archives may make up to three copies (in analog or digital format) of a published work but only in order to replace a copy from the library's collection when the original is damaged, deteriorating, lost, stolen, or in an obsolete format, and when an unused replacement copy cannot be obtained at a fair price.
If digital copies are made, they may not be distributed outside the library. In other words, a DVD (digital) copy of an analog videotape may not be sent out for interlibrary loan, etc. Only another videotape copy can be distributed.
Libraries and archives generally may digitize and make freely available any published work that is within the last twenty years of its copyright protection.
Libraries and archives may provide users with copies (in analog or digital format) of a small portion of many types of works in response to requests made for purposes of private study, research, or scholarship. There are limitations to this exemption, particularly with respect to audiovisual materials. It may be permissible to copy and distribute a larger proportion (or all) of the work if another physical copy (new or used) cannot be purchased at a reasonable price.
Useful Copyright Resources
Copyright.gov:Official website of the United States Copyright Office. Includes the full text of U.S. copyright law.
Copyright and Fair Use from Stanford University Libraries:Includes news on recent copyright cases and decisions and very detailed copyright overview.
Copyright and cultural institutions by Peter Hirtle