Copyright Basics

Key Points

• Virtually all intellectual creations can be protects by some form of intellectual property laws. (Copyright - expression of ideas/Trademarks - names/Patents - innovative ideas)

• Copyright laws were created to protect creator's ideas and reputations, encourage creators to create new and different ideas, and protect their financial investments and returns.

• Public Domain - Creative works that aren't copyrighted for one of several reasons: the creator chose to allow it to be used freely, US law has allowed it to be public domain after it reaches a certain age, and/or the content was created by the government or non-profit organizations. 

• Fair Use- Copyright information can be used without permission under one of these stipulations: 1) Amount - A small portion may be used, but permissions vary. 
  2) Purpose - The work has a new purpose and is transformed into something new.
  3) Nature - The work is nonfiction and based in fact (common knowledge) rather than creative.
  4) Effect - The use of the work will not negatively affect the value of the work or the profit attainable by the creator.
  FAIR USE is easier to argue if it is for education purposes, used as a critique, reported as news, or is a comedy parody of the original.

• "Work Made for Hire" - relatively new in copyright - Content you create while at work can be subject to belong to your company. 

• ASK for Permission! Some creators will give permission. 

• Ethically - Like the "Golden Rule," would you want it to happen to you? Treat the creator the way you would want to be treated.