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Overview (Nolo) | Resources

Copyright FAQs
Introduction to the Permissions Process
Website Permissions
Academic and Educational Permissions

 The Public Domain
 Fair Use
Releases
Copyright Research
The content for the Copyright and Fair Use Overview section is from NOLO, with much of it taken from the book Getting Permission (October 2010) by Richard Stim. Thanks!

Copyright FAQs

  1. Copyright Basics FAQ
    1. What types of creative work does copyright protect?
    2. Does copyright protect an author's creative ideas?
    3. How long does a copyright last?
  2. Copyright Protection: What It Is, How It Works
    1. What role does a copyright notice play?
    2. What is a valid copyright notice?
    3. When can I use a work without the author's permission?
  3. Copyright Ownership: Who Owns What?
    1. What are the exceptions to the rule that the creator of a work owns the copyright?
    2. Who owns the copyright in a joint work?
    3. Can two or more authors provide contributions to a single work without being considered a joint authors for copyright purposes?
    4. What rights do copyright owners have under the Copyright Act?
    5. Can a copyright owner transfer some or all of his specific rights?
  4. Copyright Registration and Enforcement
    1. Why should I register my work with the U.S. Copyright Office?
    2. How do I register a copyright?
    3. How are copyrights enforced? Is going to court necessary?
  5. Videotaping for the Classroom
  6. Copyrighting Your Software
  7. Copyright Law Changes That May Affect You

Introduction to the Permissions Process

  1. Permission: What Is It and Why Do I Need It?
  2. The Basics of Getting Permission
    1. Determine If Permission Is Needed
    2. Identify the Owner
    3. Identify the Rights You Need
    4. Negotiate Whether Payment Is Required
    5. Get It In Writing
  3. Overview of Intellectual Property Laws
  4. Permission Tools: Licenses and Releases
    1. Licenses, Permissions and Clearances
    2. Releases
Website Permissions
  1. Websites: Five Ways to Stay Out of Trouble
    1. Assume It's Protected
    2. Read Click-Wrap Agreements
    3. Remove Unauthorized Material
    4. Investigate Claims Promptly
    5. When in Doubt, Seek Permission
  2. Transferring Information to and From a Website
    1. Posting Information on a Website
    2. Taking Information From a Website
  3. Connecting to Other Websites
    1. Linking and Framing
    2. Linking Agreements

Academic and Educational Permissions

  1. Academic Coursepacks
    1. Coursepacks and Copyright
    2. Obtaining Clearance for Coursepacks
    3. Using a Clearance Service
    4. Assembling Your Own Coursepack
  2. Educational Uses of Non-Coursepack Materials
    1. Educational Fair Use Guidelines
    2. Rules for Reproducing Text Materials for Use in Class
    3. Rules for Reproducing Music
    4. Rules for Recording and Showing Television Programs
  3. Proposed (But Not Adopted) Educational Guidelines on Fair Use
    1. Proposed Guidelines for Digital Copying
    2. Proposed Guidelines for Using Digitized Images in Lectures, Scholarly Presentations or Publications
    3. Proposed Guidelines for Students or Instructors Preparing Multimedia Works
  4. Library Photocopying
  5. Academic Permission Resources
    1. Coursepack Resources
    2. Educational Fair Use Guidelines

The Public Domain
  1. Welcome to the Public Domain
    1. Expired Copyright
    2. The Renewal Trapdoor
    3. Dedicated Works
    4. Copyright Does Not Protect Certain Works
  2. Public Domain Trouble Spots
    1. Multi-Layered Works
    2. Public Domain Works That are Modified
    3. Works Protected by Trademark Law
    4. Works Protected in Other Countries
    5. Compilations
    6. Works First Published Outside the U.S.

Fair Use

  1. What Is Fair Use?
    1. Comment and Criticism
    2. Parody
  2. Measuring Fair Use: The Four Factors
    1. The Transformative Factor: The Purpose and Character of Your Use
    2. The Nature of the Copyrighted Work
    3. The Amount and Substantiality of the Portion Taken
    4. The Effect of the Use Upon the Potential Market
    5. The "Fifth" Fair Use Factor: Are You Good or Bad?
  3. Summaries of Fair Use Cases
    1. Cases Involving Text
    2. Artwork and Audiovisual Cases
    3. Internet Cases
    4. Music Cases
    5. Parody Cases
  4. Disagreements Over Fair Use: When Are You Likely to Get Sued?
Releases
  1. What Is a Release?
    1. Invasion of Privacy
    2. Right of Publicity
    3. Defamation
  2. When to Use a Release
    1. Informational Uses
    2. Commercial Uses
    3. Is Your Use Commercial or Informational?
    4. Websites: Informational or Commercial?
    5. Releases and Free Speech
  3. Personal Release Agreements
    1. General Rules for Releases
    2. Unlimited Personal Release Agreement
    3. Limited Personal Release Agreement
    4. Explanation for Limited and Unlimited Personal Releases
  4. Interview and Property Releases
    1. Interview Releases
    2. Property Releases

Copyright Research

  1. Copyright Ownership and Transfers FAQ
    1. What Is a Work Made for Hire?
    2. What Is a Transfer of Title?
    3. What Is a Termination of a Transfer?
    4. What If More Than One Person Owns a Copyright?
    5. When Must You Get Multiple Permissions?
    6. Is There a Difference Between an Author and a Copyright Owner?
    7. What If a Work Does Not Contain a Copyright Notice?
    8. What If There Is a Copyright Notice for an Entire Magazine but Not for the Specific Article You Want to Use?
  2. Starting Your Copyright Research
  3. Searching the Copyright Office and Library of Congress Records
    1. Defining Your Search
    2. Searching Copyright Office Records
    3. Searching Copyright Office
Records Online
    4. Searching Library of Congress Records
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