Copyright Basics
What is covered by copyright?
Almost all forms of original expression that are fixed in a tangible medium are subject to copyright protection, even if no formal copyright notice is attached. Written text, recorded sound, digital images, and computer software are some examples of works that can be copyrighted.
Copyright holders have the following rights:
- reproduce a Work
- make derivative works
- distribute copies of the Work
- perform or display Work in public
Fair Use is determined by analyzing the following four factors:
- purpose and character of the use
- nature of the copyrighted work
- amount and substantiality of the portion used
- effect of the use upon the potential market
Additional background resources can be found at:
- Intellectual Property Crash Course, Georgia Harper, University of Texas System, May 22, 2000
- When Works Pass into the Public Domain, Laura Gassaway, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, October 9, 1999
- Intellectual Property in Cyberspace, William W. Fisher III, Berkman Center for Internet & Society's Online Lecture Discussion Series, February - March, 2000(online course with readings)
