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Can a copyright be transferred to another person?

Ownership of a copyright is similar to ownership of other types of personal property. A copyright and copyright protection can be sold, given by designation, or transferred just like real estate. You ...

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How do I obtain and protect a copyright on my work?

Copyright protection arises upon creation of a work, without formal action on the author's part. However, it is wise to always place a copyright notice-typically a 'c' inside a circle, with a year nex...

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What is required to get copyright protection?

You do not need to apply or register to get copyright protection. Actually, you receive copyright protection when you create the work. The instant you use your pencil, typewriter, or computer to produ...

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Copyright Law

Copyright protection exists for original works of authorship that involve some minimal level of creativity. In order to be eligible for copyright protection, the work must be fixed in a tangible mediu...

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What is a “work for hire?”

The default copyright scenario is that a creator owns his or her work. For another party to own the work, it must be set forth in writing. Under this default, therefore, contractors own their work. If...

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What is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act?

The 'Digital Millennium Copyright Act', or DMCA for short, became law several years ago and expanded copyright to address several issues regarding computers and the internet. Some of the more importan...

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What works cannot be copyright protected?

Not all works can receive copyright protection. In fact, Title 17, the copyright title, specifically lists what can and can't be considered copyrightable based on certain requirements. The first requi...

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Can I use someone else’s copyrighted work?

Copyrighted work may be used with the copyright holder's consent or for certain purposes by people other than the copyright owner under the Fair Use doctrine. The Fair Use doctrine allows reproduction...

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What is “fair use” in intellectual property law?

Fair Use is a defense to a claim of copyright infringement. This means that if you were to use a work and you thought your use was "fair use", you would have to be sued for infringement and assert tha...