Copyright Basics

Q:  What is Copyright?

A:  A form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to authors of original works.  The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the ability to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing, for a limited time, exclusive rights of authors and inventors to their respective writings and discoveries. 

Q:  What is protected?

A:  Owners of the work have exclusive rights to:

• Reproduce
• Prepare
• Distribute 
• Perform
• Display
• Perform by means of digital transmission

Q:  What is not protected?

A:  The following:

• Works not fixed in tangible form
• Titles, phrases, short slogans
• Ideas, procedures, methods
• Works consisting entirely of information that is common knowledge

Q:  What is Fair Use?

A:  The most important limitation on the exclusive rights of a copyright holder.  It can be applied in many instances, but one must use sound judgment in making an argument for Fair Use.

Q:  What is Public Domain?

A:  Information, knowledge, discoveries and artistic creation never or no longer protected by copyright