What is Copyright?
Copyright is a legal concept, giving the creator of original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution, typically for a limited time, with a range of exceptions and limitations.
Copyright Origins
The notion of copyright has roots in the Statute of Anne, 1710. It was the first statute to provide copyright protection, initially for books in the United Kingdom.
Duration and Terms
Copyright terms vary worldwide, but commonly last the life of the author plus 50-70 years. In the US, works created after 1978 are protected for 70 years after the author's death.
Fair Use Doctrine
Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like news reporting, research, education, or parody, balancing creators' rights with public interests.
Economic Rights
Copyright grants economic rights to creators, allowing them to profit from their work. It covers reproducing, distributing, performing, displaying, and creating derivative works.
Moral Rights
Beyond economic rights, authors have moral rights, including the right to claim authorship and object to any derogatory treatment of their work that could harm their reputation.
Global Copyright Treaties
International treaties like the Berne Convention protect copyright across countries, requiring no formal registration for recognition, and are honored in over 170 nations worldwide.
What grants copyright?
Original work creation
Public domain use
Government declaration
Company