Copyright Overview

Copyright provides protection to authors for their original works, published or unpublished. Copyright protection is granted through Title 17 of the U.S. Code and covers protection for literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. Copyright ensures that the author of the work has the right to determine when and how the work will be reproduced, distributed, or performed. An author automatically owns the copyright to their work as soon as their work is created and is in a tangible form. No further action is required to obtain the copyright. However, it is recommended to include the phrase "copyright by" or the copyright symbol © to help secure the copyright. In the case of works made for hire, the employer and not the employee is considered to be the author.

On the Internet, everything is copyrighted. A common misconception is that the information found on the Internet is in the public domain. Although the information is easy to find and reproduce, digital content is still copyrighted and copying or reproducing it without permission may be illegal. However, providing a link to another website is NOT considered a copyright violation.

Copyright Resources

• A Blackboard Tip Sheet on Copyright, Fair Use, & Educational Multimedia FAQ provides an excellent summary.

• Copyright Basics from the U.S. Copyright Office.

• Intellectual Property Institute A website created by the University of Richmond School of Law that covers copyright and intellectual property issues.

• FairUse Explanation

-- LucilleLindamood - 22 Jun 2005