Copyright Fundamentals
Crews, K. (2015). Copyright quick guide. Retrieved from https://copyright.columbia.edu/basics/copyright-quick-guide.html
- Provides an overview of copyright law with focus on the fundamental principles of copyright, the meaning of copyright ownership, and permitted uses of copyright materials.
- Contains links to more resources that expand on issues related to copyright duration and the public domain.
⚖
Hirtle, P. B., Hudson, E., & Kenyon, A. T. (2009). Copyright & cultural institutions: Guidelines for digitization for U.S. libraries, archives, & museums. Retrieved from https://ecommons.cornell.edu/bitstream/handle/1813/14142/Hirtle-Copyright_final_RGB_lowres-cover1.pdf
- Chapters 1-4 provide an overview of copyright law with focus on the fundamental principles of copyright, along with ownership, exclusive rights, and duration of copyright.
- Flowchart 2, "Subsistence of Copyright" (p. 17), takes readers through a list of questions to determine if an object meets the conditions required (e.g., type of work, originality, form) for it to be protected by copyright.
⚖
Sobel, L. S. (2005). Copyright navigator. Retrieved from http://navigator.carolon.net
- A dynamic concept map that takes users step-by-step through the three fundamental areas of copyright law - protection, ownership, and enforcement.
- Provides citations to relevant sections of the law.
⚖
U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress. (2017). Circular 1: Copyright basics. Retrieved from https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf
- Explains what copyright does and does not protect, who can claim copyright, the rights of copyright owners, length of copyright terms, permitted uses of copyright materials, and what consitutes publication.
- Provides links to other circulars that expand on these topics (e.g., Circular 6, "Duration of Copyright").
⚖
U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress. (2016). Copyright law of the United States and related laws contained in Title 17 of the United States Code. Retrieved from https://www.copyright.gov/title17/
- Contains the actual text of U.S. copyright law, including the Copyright Act of 1976 and subsequent amendments through June 2016.
- The fundamental components of the law are contained in the first three chapters, which cover the subject matter, scope, duration, ownership, and transfer of copyright.
⚖
Zimmerman, M. (2015). The basics of copyright law: Just enough copyright for people who are not attorneys or intellectual property experts. California Bar Journal. Retrieved from https://www.fenwick.com/FenwickDocuments/2015-03-17-Copyright-Basics.pdf
- Written by an intellectual property attorney, this primer covers the basic elements of copyright law, as well as issues related to liability, infringment, and misuse.
- Brief, well-organized, and easy to follow; the article was written for non-experts in copyright.