Copyright Notice
 

 

Copyright protection arises automatically when an original work of authorship is fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

The use of copyright notice is optional for works distributed after March 1, 1989. Copyright notice can take any of these three forms:

  1. © followed by a date and name. - © 2015 David L. Lawrence - © 2015 Pixel Purfect
     
  2. "Copyright" followed by a date and name. - "Copyright" 2015 David L. Lawrence - "Copyright" 2015 Pixel Purfect
     

 

  1. "Copr." followed by a date and name. - "Copr." 2015 David L. Lawrence - "Copr." 2015 Pixel Purfect
     

Any of these copyright notices represents . Please feel free to contact me via email for use requests.
 

 

The Exclusive Rights

A copyright owner has five exclusive rights in the copyrighted work:  

  1. Reproduction Right.  The reproduction right is the right to copy, duplicate, transcribe, or imitate the work in fixed form.
  2. Modification Right.  The modification right (also known as the derivative works right) is the right to modify the work to create a new work. A new      work that is based on a preexisting work is known as a "derivative work."
  3. Distribution Right.  The distribution right is the right to distribute copies of the work to the public by sale, rental, lease, or lending.
  4. Public Performance Right.  The public performance right is the right to recite, play, dance, act, or show the work at public place or to transmit      it to the public. In the case of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, showing the work's images in sequence is considered "performance."
  5. Public Display Right.  The public display right is the right to show a copy of the work directly or by means of a film, slide, or television image at      a public place or to transmit it to the public. In the case of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, showing the work's images out of sequence      is considered "display."

Infringement

Anyone who violates any of the exclusive rights of a copyright owner is an infringer.

Example: Developer scanned Photographer's copyrighted photograph, altered the image by using digital editing software, and included the altered version of the photograph in a multimedia work that Developer sold to consumers. If Developer used Photographer's photograph without permission, Developer infringed Photographer's copyright by violating the reproduction right (scanning the photograph), the modification right (altering the photograph), and the distribution right (selling the altered photograph as part of the multimedia work).

A copyright owner can recover actual or, in some cases, statutory damages from an infringer. The federal district courts have the power to issue injunctions (orders) to prevent or restrain copyright infringement and to order the impoundment and destruction of infringing copies.

Duration of the Rights

Under current law, the copyright term for works created by individuals is the life of the author plus 70 years.