Copyright Basics Quiz

Copyright is a legal protection granted to authors of original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible form, like a book, song, or painting. It gives the author exclusive rights to use and control their work.

Works that are eligible for copyright protection include literary works, musical compositions, dramatic pieces, choreographic works, paintings, sculptures, movies, sound recordings, and architectural designs.

Copyright protection in the US begins automatically when a work is fixed in a tangible form. This means as soon as you write a song, record it, or create a painting, you have copyright.

Copyright owners have the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, perform, publicly display, create derivative works, and authorize others to do these things with their copyrighted work.

Copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For works created anonymously or pseudonymously, the copyright lasts for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

Registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office provides legal benefits, such as the ability to sue for infringement and a presumption of copyright ownership in court. It can also provide notice to the public that your work is protected.

To register a copyright, you must submit a completed application, a non-refundable fee, and a copy of your work to the U.S. Copyright Office. The process can be completed online or through mail.

Copyright is a powerful tool that protects authors' rights and incentivizes creativity. Understanding basic facts about copyright and registration can help you protect your creative works.

The legal right to control how a creative work is used. It grants the owner the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works based on the work.

Transferring copyright ownership to another person or entity. This can be done through a will, inheritance, or a formal agreement.

A legal process of formally registering a transfer of copyright ownership with the Copyright Office. While not mandatory, it offers legal benefits.

A legal right for authors or their heirs to terminate an agreement that transferred or licensed their copyright after 35 years. This requires formal notification and registration.

The legal duration of a copyright, determined based on creation date and type of work.

For works created after January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the author's lifetime plus 70 years. For works made for hire, copyright lasts 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

Copyright duration for works created before January 1, 1978, that were not published or registered by that date, generally follows the same rules as for works created after that date. However, the minimum duration extends until December 31, 2002, and publication before that date extends the duration until December 31, 2047.

A written notice filed with the Copyright Office to terminate a copyright transfer agreement.

A public document that records crucial details about a copyrighted work, such as the author, title, and owner's contact information.

It helps establish that you own the copyright to your work, giving you stronger legal protection.

It provides legal evidence that you own the copyright and that the details on the certificate are accurate.

If your work is registered before or within five years of publication, it creates a strong presumption that you are the rightful owner and the details on the certificate are correct.

You are eligible for statutory damages, attorney's fees, and costs in copyright infringement lawsuits.

It lets you protect your work against unauthorized import, helping you control the distribution of copies.

The effective date is the day the Copyright Office receives all necessary materials, including the application, deposit, and fee.

The effective date is set when they receive all the required elements in acceptable form. It's not based on the time it takes to process or mail the certificate.

When two or more authors combine their efforts to create a single work, where their contributions are inseparable and interdependent, they are considered joint authors and share an indivisible interest in the copyright.

When multiple authors collaborate on a work but their contributions remain distinct and separate, each author owns the copyright to their individual contribution, while the collective work as a whole may have a separate copyright holder.

The initial term of copyright for works created before January 1, 1978 and published or registered before that date, lasting 28 years from the date of publication or registration.

In "work made for hire", the creator of the work is not the copyright holder. Instead, the party who hired the creator owns the copyright.

A "work made for hire" can be created by an employee as part of their regular duties, or when an individual and the hiring party enter into a written agreement explicitly designating the work as "work made for hire."

The extension of copyright protection for works created before January 1, 1978, adding 67 years to the initial term.

The total possible length of copyright protection for works created before January 1, 1978, which is 95 years.

Specific types of works that can qualify as "work made for hire" when commissioned through a written agreement.

A formal process to secure copyright protection with the U.S. Copyright Office.

The concept of "work made for hire" can be complex and has significant consequences for both the creator and the hiring party, affecting copyright ownership.

Applying a notice (copyright symbol, word "copyright", name of copyright owner, and year of publication) to a work, which is no longer mandatory but can provide benefits.

Simply possessing a copy of a copyrighted work does not grant ownership of the copyright. The owner of the copy only owns the physical object, not the intellectual property rights.

The legal rights granted to the creator of original works, allowing them to control how their work is used and distributed.

Copyright ownership can be transferred through a written agreement signed by the owner or their authorized agent. Transferring non-exclusive rights does not require a written agreement.

The automatic protection granted to an original work once it is fixed in a tangible medium.

The Copyright Office, an official agency responsible for managing and enforcing copyright protection.

A work is considered "published" when it is made available to the public, either in print or online. An unpublished work remains in the author's control.

A legal presumption that the work is protected by copyright if it was registered before or within five years of its first publication.

Copyright owners can claim statutory damages and attorneys' fees in an infringement lawsuit if they register their work before the infringement began or within three months of its first publication.

Copyright protection in the United States begins automatically when a work is fixed in a tangible form. But registering your work provides additional legal protection and benefits.

All copyrighted works published in the United States are subject to mandatory deposit, requiring authors to send two complete copies of their work to the Library of Congress within three months of publication.

There is no global copyright protection. Protection against unauthorized use in a particular country depends on that country's laws.

Generally, a U.S. work may be protected in another country if that country has an international copyright agreement with the United States.