A look at copyright law and fair use fundamentals.
Use the Copyright Law of the United States. The online publication contains the text of title 17 of the United States Code, including all amendments enacted by Congress through June 30, 2016. Below is a list of the most useful chapters.
Chapter 1: Subject Matter and Scope of Copyright. A very helpful breakdown of definitions of terms of subject matter and scope of copyright in copyright law.
Chapter 2: Copyright Ownership and Transfer. Explains how ownership is established and a transfer can be initiated and completed.
Chapter 3: Duration of Copyright All the nitty-gritty details of copyright duration.
Chapter 10: Digital Audio Recording Devices and Media. Provides useful definitions for terms in this arena, and detailed usage rules.
Chapter 11: Sound Recordings and Music Videos.Provides useful definitions for terms in this arena, and detailed usage rules.
Chapter 12: Copyright Protection and Management Systems. Outlines copyright violations for circumventing copyright protection.
Appendix A: The Copyright Act of 1976. This act extended the length of copyright duration for works that would go in the Public Domain post-1978.
Appendix B: The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. While this act is not comprehensive for today's digital uses, it laid the groundwork and seeing where updates will be needed is crucial.
Use the Duration of Copyright Chart to visually see how long copyright will last based on date of publication.
Use the Master Flowchart for Evaluating Copyright Status for works published between 1923 and 1977.
Use the Digital Copyright Slider. A powerfully simple tool to determine if something is in public domain or if permission is needed in US. While this will not answer every question, it really helps simplify the process and send you in the right direction.
Use the Copyright Term and Public Domain in the US from Cornell University Library.
This chart breaks down copyright term and public domain status by descriptive categories.
Refer to the Copyright Crash Course for guidance through copyright FAQ or specific subjects.
Use these International Public Domain Calculators. A comprehensive list of links to international public domain calculators.
How do I locate copyright holders? Here is a basic, straight-forward guide.
What if I can't locate the copyright holder?
From the Center for Social Media and Impact, includes a report on Orphan Work Challenges and statements and codes for best practices.
Check to see if Copyright was Renewed? For works published between1923-1963. Works published after January 1, 1964 had their copyrights automatically renewed by statute, and works published before 1923 have generally fallen into the public domain. Between those dates, determining whether a work's registration was renewed as required has been a challenge.
From 2015 - Library of Congress.
1. DRM stripping of films is allowed if the purpose is to obtain short portions for the purpose of criticism or comment when used for documentary filmmaking,
non-commercial videos,
nonfiction multimedia ebooks that offer film analysis,
by college and university faculty and students for educational purposes,
by faculty of MOOCS,
for K-12 educators and students, and
by educators and participants in nonprofit digital and media literacy programs.
2. When the DRM prevents the read-aloud functionality for assistive technologies but it must be a nondramatic literary work.
3. When circumvention is undertaken solely to connect to a wireless telecommunications network where the connection is authorized by the operator of the network.
4. When circumvention is for the sole purpose of enabling inter-operability of applications with software on smartphones or other devices, including smart TVs.
5. When circumvention is necessary for the authorized owner of a vehicle to allow for diagnosis, repair or lawful modification of a vehicle function, but cannot violate applicable law (EPA, etc.).
6. For good-faith security research on computer programs in these devices:
designed for use by individual consumers
motorized land vehicle
medical device for whole or partial implantation in patients or a corresponding personal monitoring system.
7. Video games for the sole purpose of restoring access to the game for personal gameplay or to allow preservation of the game in a playable form.
8. Computer programs used to operate video game consoles solely to the extent necessary for an eligible library, archives or museum to engage in preservation activities.
The Future of Copyright - Upcoming Issues
Looking at copyright and intellectual property going forward.
Upcoming Copyright Decisions - will update shortly, new hearings in April, 2018.
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