The Netsurfer's Simple Guide To Copyrights
The Netsurfer's Simple Guide to Copyrights distills United States copyright law into five maxims:
- If you didn't create a written work, art,
photograph, or music, or obtain distribution rights to it, you don't own it.
- If you don't own it, you can't copy or
distribute it.
- The author or owner must explicitly
relinquish rights for a work to be placed in the public domain.
- Fair use allows copying of small portions of
a work without the owner's permission, but only for criticism, education, and
news reporting.
- When in doubt, ask for permission to use a work.
For a more granular approach to copyright law, click here for a full description of US Code 17.
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