Section XI

Copyright

Balancing of Rights

n   Society’s interest in free flow of information

 

n   Individual and corporate interests in protecting intellectual and artistic property

 

Copyright Laws

n   1790 law gives authors right to protect their works for 14+14 years

n   in 1800’s revised to 42 years and various material added to list of protected works

n   1976 new law extends to 50 years after life of creator

n   1998 Congress extends to 70 years (95 if commercial work) after life of creator

 

 

What May be Copyrighted

n   original works of authorship

   News or facts are not copyrightable, but style in which they are presented can be.

 

n   fixed in a tangible medium

 

Fair Use

n   purpose and character of use

n   nature of copyrighted work

n   amount/proportion of work used

n   effect of use on market

 

Criteria for Determining Infringement

n   originality

n   access

n   copying and substantial similarity

 

Rights for Free Lancers

n   all rights

n   first serial rights

n   first N. American serial rights

n   simultaneous rights

n   one-time rights

 

Copyright and the Internet

n   Quality of copy

n   Amount of material

n   Ease of copying

n   Ease of distribution

n   International accessibility

 

Key Laws and Court Cases

n   Sony Corp. v Universal Studios - 1984

    Use of VCRs does not violate copyright

n   Audio Home Recording Act – 1992

    Cannot make multiple copies

n   Digital Millenium Copyright Act – 1998

    Cannot create anticopying devices

 

Digital Media and Copyright

n   MP3 players – okay to make

n   Napster – peer-to-peer sharing violates copyright

n   DVD’s – DeCSS software not legal

 

Other Internet Copyright Issues

n   Cybersquatting

n   Links and frames

n   Metatags

 

Digital Copyright Solution Options

n   Technical

n   Laws and regulations

n   Economic