This document provides information about copyright including what can be copyrighted, fair use guidelines, public domain works, orphaned works, creative commons licensing as an alternative to copyright, registering copyrights with the US Copyright Office, and licensing copyrighted works. Key points covered include that copyright protects original fixed works, fair use considers the work's character, market effect, nature and amount used, public domain works are those whose copyright has expired or whose author is unknown, and creative commons offers open licensing for media and other works.

1. Copyright: Know the Facts

2. What can you Copyright?
Copyrights protect original works of
authorship that are fixed in a tangible
form of expression.

3. Fair Use: Four Questions to
ask.
Character
Market
Nature
How much

4. Obtain Permission
Ask the owner for permission.
License fee.

5. Public Domain
Definition: A public domain work is a creative
work that is not protected by copyright and
which may be freely used by everyone. The
reasons that the work is not protected include:
(1) the term of copyright for the work has
expired; (2) the author failed to satisfy statutory
formalities to perfect the copyright or (3) the
work is a work of the U.S. Government.

6. Orphaned Work
Definition: An orphaned work is a creative work
that is not protected by copyright and
which may be freely used by everyone. The
reasons that the work is not protected include:
(1) the term of copyright for the work has
expired; (2) the author is unknown.

7. Alternative to Copyright
Creative Commons is a great way to open an
open source license for
media, music, images, and
more.
Creativecommons.org for more information.

8. Remember
Get your work registered with the Copyright
office.
35 dollar charge.
Electronic Filling
Mass filing for one price.
Protection becomes a public record.

9. Licensing
You can sell the rights of your image or
work to be reproduced.
The rights are sold per run of the
publication.
Prices for licensing can be figured by
circulation of the publication.
Always get the usage rights in a written
contract.

10. References
• Copy Write Basics. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf
• Copyright Crash Course. Georgia K. Harper.
2007. Retrieved from
http://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/
• WHEN U.S. WORKS PASS INTO THE
PUBLIC DOMAIN. (n.d.). Lolly Gasaway.
Retrieved from
http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm