Copyright basics: Copyright law

An introduction to copyright law

A copyright is a legal device that gives the creator of a literary, artistic, musical, or other creative work the sole right to publish and sell that work. Copyright owners have the right to control the reproduction of their work, including the right to receive payment for that reproduction. An author may grant or sell those rights to others, including publishers or recording companies. Violation of a copyright is called infringement.

~ From the article "Copyright" from the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law (linked below)

Consider the various resources linked on this page to learn more about the ins and outs of copyright law.

Note: Be sure to click on the other drop downs on the tab above for specific information on "Fair use" and the "TEACH act," which are the sections of the law which most often pertain to education.

Articles from the library's collection

Consider these reference articles, accessed through the library's databases, to learn more about copyright, its history, and related topics. 

Online tutorials and articles

Consider the sources featured below to learn more.

Again, it's important to read about Fair Use, the Teach Act, and Classroom Use Exception - in the main menu above under Copyright Law. But if you're looking for an overview of copyright law itself without reading the entire .pdf above, here are some guiding points:

Copyright may be an issue when dealing with:

Who owns the copyright to a work?

In most cases, the author or creator of the work is the copyright holder unless they have transferred the rights to someone else through a written agreement, such as a publishing agreement.

If the work is created as part of a person's employment, it may be a "work for hire," meaning that the employer is the copyright holder. In the university setting, faculty writings and other "traditional works of scholarship," such as syllabi and lecture materials are typically not considered to be works for hire.

If two or more people together create a work, they are joint holders of the copyright. Joint owners each have an equal right to exercise and enforce the copyright.

How can I tell if a work is still under copyright? How long does copyright last? 

Depending upon when a work was created, it is subject to different requirements regarding copyright notice and registration, as well as different copyright terms. Under current U.S. law, copyright lasts until 70 years after the death of the author. For works made for hire, the copyright term is either 95 years from the date of publication, or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever is shorter.

After the copyright term expires, works pass into the public domain, meaning that anyone is free to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise re-use the work. Also, for example, before 1978 U.S. law required that works be published with a notice of copyright to receive protection. Failure to comply with this requirement would result in the work being in the public domain. 

As a general rule, works registered or published in the U.S. before 1923 are in the public domain.

This page derives content from "Copyright Basics: Copyright for Faculty" by Florida State College at Jacksonville Library which is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.