What is Copyright?
According to Webster's, copyright is the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.
Origins of Copyright
”The Congress shall have the power… [t]o promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.”
- Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution
Additional Milestones
1790: Copyright Act of 1790 - The first congress implements the copyright provision in the Constitution
1831: Revision of the Copyright Act - Extends copyright to 28 years, with an additional 14 year renewal
1870: Revision of the Copyright Act - Copyright administration moved to the Library of Congress's jurisdiction
1909: Revision of the U. S. Copyright Act - Broadens scope, extends terms again (28 years with a 28 year renewal)
1976: Revision of the U. S. Copyright Act - Major revision: addressed technological advances, extends terms, Fair Use
1994: Conference on Fair Use (CONFU) - The Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights broadens Fair Use guidelines
1998: Digital Millennium Copyright Act - Addresses internet issues, unauthorized digital copying
2001: Creative Commons founded - The Center for Public Domain supports expanding how creative works are shared
2002: TEACH Act - Addresses digitial media use in online, nonprofit, educational settings
What is Covered By Copyright?
| Protected | Not Protected |
|---|---|
| Literary works | Ideas / methods / concepts |
| Musical works | Non-tangible works |
| Dramatic works | Titles, names, short phrases |
| Choreographic works | Familiar symbols / designs |
| Motion pictures | Typographic ornamentation / coloring |
| Sound recordings | Ingredient lists / content lists |
| Architectural works |
Who Can Claim Copyright?
Next Up: Fair Use