Intellectual Property Law
Copyright
Like patent protection, copyright protection in the U.S. is conferred by federal law, based on a specific provision of the Constitution. Federal copyright protection applies to literary, musical and dramatic works, pictorial, sculptural, audiovisual works, and computer program expression. Copyright protection for works created today begins when the work is first "fixed in a tangible medium of expression," i.e., written down or otherwise recorded, and usually lasts for the life of the author plus fifty years, depending on who the author is. The owner of a copyright has the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute copies of the copyrighted work, and to prepare derivative works (adaptations, translations, etc.) based on the copyrighted work. If the work can be performed, such as a musical or dramatic work, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to perform it publicly. In the case of a work that can be displayed, such as a picture, sculpture or motion picture, the copyright owner may prevent others from displaying the work without the owner's permission. All of these rights are subject to the doctrine of "fair use," which permits limited use of copyrighted works for certain educational purposes (among few others). Copyright is considered to be property, and may therefore be sold and licensed. Claims to copyright may be registered in the U.S. Copyright Office. When a copyrighted work is published, well-advised copyright owners place a notice of copyright on the copies of the work as a warning to would be copiers. Such notice may consist of a "c" enclosed by a circle, the date (at least the year) and the name of the copyright owner.
The owner of a copyright has the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute copies of the copyrighted work, and to prepare derivative works (adaptations, translations, etc.) based on the copyrighted work. If the work can be performed, such as a musical or dramatic work, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to perform it publicly. In the case of a work that can be displayed, such as a picture, sculpture or motion picture, the copyright owner may prevent others from displaying the work without the owner's permission. All of these rights are subject to the doctrine of "fair use," which permits limited use of copyrighted works for certain educational purposes (among few others).
Copyright is considered to be property, and may therefore be sold and licensed. Claims to copyright may be registered in the U.S. Copyright Office. When a copyrighted work is published, well-advised copyright owners place a notice of copyright on the copies of the work as a warning to wouldbe copiers. Such notice may consist of a "c" enclosed by a circle, the date (at least the year) and the name of the copyright owner. end these efforts reap the benefits, the law recognizes four main types of intellectual property: patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.