Copyright Laws & Issues
- Copyrights exist immediately upon creation.copyright image by cam422 from Fotolia.com
Copyright protections are specific legal rights granted by law to original works of authorship. These laws are based both on constitutional protections and other federal laws, and allow creators of original works to be sure their creations are protected. Registered copyrights are granted by the United States Copyright Office, though works of authorship do not need to be registered to receive protections. - According to the United States Copyright Office (USCO) copyright protections vest immediately upon the creation of a work of authorship as long as it meets two basic requirements: It is original and it is affixed or attached in a tangible medium of expression.
The originality requirements means the work cannot already have been produced by someone else. It can be any kind of original work, such as a play, book, computer software, architectural plan or a song. However, the work must be affixed in a tangible medium that can be viewed or perceived. In other words, it cannot merely be an idea or a concept, but must be reduced to some kind of writing, recording or other medium. - Copyright protections exist in any original work of authorship immediately upon creation, though additional protections can also be gained if the copyright owner registers the work with the Unites States. Registration is voluntary, but if a copyright holder registers the work with the Unites States Copyright Office, additional protections are afforded. Some additional damages can be awarded for violations of registered copyrights, and the copyright holder can also recover attorney fees.
- Anyone with a copyright has the exclusive right to perform specific activities regarding that work. According to the United States Copyright Office, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce the work, make derivative works based on it, perform the work publicly and sell any copies. The law also makes it illegal for anyone who doesn't hold copyrights to the work to violate the rights of the holder. The copyright holder can enforce the law against any violator by seeking damages or other legal redress such as injunctions or even criminal sanctions.
