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Questions and Answers
What must Paramount obtain to distribute 'Rear Window' during the renewal term?
What must Paramount obtain to distribute 'Rear Window' during the renewal term?
Derivative works do not require new permission for use during the renewal term.
Derivative works do not require new permission for use during the renewal term.
False
Who can exercise the termination interest if the author of the work is deceased?
Who can exercise the termination interest if the author of the work is deceased?
The person or persons who own more than one-half of the author's termination interest.
According to 17 USC § 203, works other than a work made for hire are subject to ____ under certain conditions.
According to 17 USC § 203, works other than a work made for hire are subject to ____ under certain conditions.
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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Which of the following statements regarding the copyright of compilations is true?
Which of the following statements regarding the copyright of compilations is true?
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Facts are copyrightable under U.S. law.
Facts are copyrightable under U.S. law.
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What does the merger doctrine state regarding copyright?
What does the merger doctrine state regarding copyright?
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The distinction between an idea and its expression is known as the __________.
The distinction between an idea and its expression is known as the __________.
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Match the legal doctrines with their meanings:
Match the legal doctrines with their meanings:
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What happens once a work becomes fixed in a tangible medium?
What happens once a work becomes fixed in a tangible medium?
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A collective work is not considered a compilation under copyright law.
A collective work is not considered a compilation under copyright law.
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According to U.S. law, what type of material is not eligible for copyright protection?
According to U.S. law, what type of material is not eligible for copyright protection?
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What is the minimum notice period required before a termination of copyright can occur?
What is the minimum notice period required before a termination of copyright can occur?
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The right to terminate a grant opens immediately after the grant is made.
The right to terminate a grant opens immediately after the grant is made.
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What is the key factor that determines when a termination right can be exercised?
What is the key factor that determines when a termination right can be exercised?
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A regrant of rights can only occur after the first effective ________ date has passed.
A regrant of rights can only occur after the first effective ________ date has passed.
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Which of the following is true regarding the recordation of termination rights?
Which of the following is true regarding the recordation of termination rights?
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The provisions regarding termination rights only apply to copyright interests in the US.
The provisions regarding termination rights only apply to copyright interests in the US.
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What is the duration of copyright for a work that was copyrighted by a corporate body or as a work for hire, according to the first term subsisting on January 1, 1978?
What is the duration of copyright for a work that was copyrighted by a corporate body or as a work for hire, according to the first term subsisting on January 1, 1978?
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What must authors or heirs do to effectuate a termination of rights?
What must authors or heirs do to effectuate a termination of rights?
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The Renewal Copyright Act of 1992 allowed for automatic renewal only for works published before 1978.
The Renewal Copyright Act of 1992 allowed for automatic renewal only for works published before 1978.
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What is the total length of copyright protection for works that were published between 1964 and 1977 as a result of the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act?
What is the total length of copyright protection for works that were published between 1964 and 1977 as a result of the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act?
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The Berne Convention was established in the year _____ and is based on three basic principles.
The Berne Convention was established in the year _____ and is based on three basic principles.
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Match the following principles of the Berne Convention with their descriptions:
Match the following principles of the Berne Convention with their descriptions:
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Which of the following statements is true about the length of copyright protection established in the Berne Convention?
Which of the following statements is true about the length of copyright protection established in the Berne Convention?
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The principle of 'independence of protection' means that a work must have protection in its country of origin to be protected in other countries.
The principle of 'independence of protection' means that a work must have protection in its country of origin to be protected in other countries.
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What was the effect of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act on works that were not renewed?
What was the effect of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act on works that were not renewed?
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How long does copyright last for a work created on or after January 1, 1978?
How long does copyright last for a work created on or after January 1, 1978?
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Under the 1909 Act, a properly registered artistic work is protected for 56 years.
Under the 1909 Act, a properly registered artistic work is protected for 56 years.
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What happens to the copyright protection of film characters when their characteristics enter the public domain?
What happens to the copyright protection of film characters when their characteristics enter the public domain?
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Copyright lasts ____ years after the death of the last surviving author in a joint work.
Copyright lasts ____ years after the death of the last surviving author in a joint work.
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Match the following copyright durations with the corresponding work types:
Match the following copyright durations with the corresponding work types:
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What portion of characters receives copyright protection?
What portion of characters receives copyright protection?
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The duration for copyright protection has changed since the 1997 Amendment to the Copyright Act.
The duration for copyright protection has changed since the 1997 Amendment to the Copyright Act.
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Copyright for a work made for hire lasts ____ years from the year of its first publication.
Copyright for a work made for hire lasts ____ years from the year of its first publication.
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Under the 1909 Copyright Act, how long was the initial term of copyright before renewal options?
Under the 1909 Copyright Act, how long was the initial term of copyright before renewal options?
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An author cannot assign their renewal rights before the original term of copyright ends.
An author cannot assign their renewal rights before the original term of copyright ends.
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In the case of Fred Fisher Music v. Witmark & Sons, which entity did Fred Fisher sell his copyright to?
In the case of Fred Fisher Music v. Witmark & Sons, which entity did Fred Fisher sell his copyright to?
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The copyright term for works published between 1964 and 1977 automatically begins a _____ renewal term if proper notice is given.
The copyright term for works published between 1964 and 1977 automatically begins a _____ renewal term if proper notice is given.
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Match the following terms with their respective definitions:
Match the following terms with their respective definitions:
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What was the primary issue in Fred Fisher Music v. Witmark & Sons?
What was the primary issue in Fred Fisher Music v. Witmark & Sons?
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Once a work enters the public domain, it remains in the public domain permanently.
Once a work enters the public domain, it remains in the public domain permanently.
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What is the maximum copyright protection for works created anonymously or pseudonymously?
What is the maximum copyright protection for works created anonymously or pseudonymously?
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Before 1978, unpublished works that remained unpublished had no expiration before _____ 2002.
Before 1978, unpublished works that remained unpublished had no expiration before _____ 2002.
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What factor did not prohibit the assignment of renewal rights by authors under the 1909 Copyright Act?
What factor did not prohibit the assignment of renewal rights by authors under the 1909 Copyright Act?
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Study Notes
Copyright Principles
- Copyright law grants temporary monopolies to authors and inventors, securing exclusive rights to their works for a limited time.
- Copyright protects original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression.
- Copyright protection is automatic upon creation, as long as the work meets the originality requirement.
- Ownership of a physical copy does not grant copyright ownership; copyright protection is separate from ownership of the tangible item.
What is protected?
- Original Works of Authorship: Literary, musical, dramatic, pantomime and choreographic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, motion pictures, other audiovisual works, sound recordings, and architectural works.
- Copyright does not protect: Facts, ideas, procedures, processes, systems, methods of operation, concepts, principles, or discoveries.
Originality
- A work must be original to be copyrightable; the work must be independently created and possess a minimal degree of creativity.
- Originality is a low threshold, does not require novelty.
- Mere compilation of facts is not inherently original.
Fixation
- A work is fixed in a tangible medium of expression when it is sufficiently permanent or stable to be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated for more than a transitory period.
- Fixation is required to obtain copyright.
Ownership Issues
- Copyright ownership initially vests in the author(s). Joint work authors are co-owners.
- Work-for-hire: The employer is considered the author of a work prepared by an employee within the scope of employment or specially commissioned in a written instrument.
- Ownership of a material object does not convey copyright ownership. Transfer of a physical copy does not transfer copyright.
Exclusive Rights
- The copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce the work, create derivative works, distribute copies, perform the work publicly, display the work publicly (in cases where it involves a performance aspect like a movie), or display the work publicly (in cases where this means a display of a tangible work like still pictures of a movie).
- The right to control these exclusive rights can be transferred.
Limitations on Copyright
- Copyright only protects the expression of an idea, not the idea itself.
- The idea-expression dichotomy limits copyright protection to the expression of an idea.
- Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, or method of operation, concept, or principle.
- Facts are not copyrightable.
The First Sale Doctrine
- The first sale doctrine allows the lawful owner of a copy of a copyrighted work to sell or otherwise dispose of it without the authorization of the copyright owner, unless the transfer is restricted in the terms of the original conveyance.
Termination of Transfer or License
- Copyright owners can terminate transfers or licenses of their rights for the sake of renegotiating to the present
- If a particular copyright is executed by a single author, the author or someone who represents more than 50% of that author's share of the termination interest can terminate the agreement.
- If the author passed, and there were other owners who would benefit from the royalties (e.g., widow/widows, children, grandchildren= the statutory beneficiaries can exercise that right of terminating.
Fair Use
- Fair use is a defense to copyright infringement; it permits the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
- Determining fair use considers four factors:
- The purpose and character of the use.
- The nature of the copyrighted work.
- The amount and substantiality of the portion used.
- The effect of the use upon the potential market for the copyrighted work.
Moral Rights
- Moral rights protect an author's integrity and right of attribution
- Protects the expression of the work, not just the market value
- Moral rights cannot be transferred or licensed unless specifically in writing
Duration
- Copyright duration varies depending on factors (such as the date of creation of the work, the type of work and author(s) involved).
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Description
Test your knowledge of copyright law with this quiz covering key concepts such as derivative works, termination rights, and the distinction between ideas and their expressions. Dive into specifics including the merger doctrine and eligibility for copyright protection under U.S. law.