What is a copyright?
A type of intellectual property giving the owner exclusive legal rights to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time.
What does copyright protect?
It protects the original expression of an idea in a creative work, but not the idea itself.
What is 'fixing' in copyright?
Some jurisdictions require a work to be fixed in a tangible form (e.g., written down or recorded) for copyright to exist.
What are the main rights of a copyright holder?
Rights include reproduction, control over derivative works, distribution, public performance, and moral rights such as attribution.
What is a 'rights holder'?
A person or entity that holds rights to use or license a copyrighted work; a work may have multiple rights holders.
What does 'territorial rights' mean in copyright?
Copyrights granted by a country's law do not extend beyond that country's territory; they vary by jurisdiction.
How long does copyright typically last?
Usually 50 to 100 years after the creator dies, depending on the jurisdiction.
What happens when a copyright expires?
The work enters the public domain, meaning it can be used freely by anyone.
What is the public domain?
Works whose copyright has expired or never existed, so they are free for anyone to use without permission.
What is plagiarism?
Using someone else's work or ideas without giving credit, presenting it as your own; it is an ethical issue, not necessarily illegal.
What is a Creative Commons licence?
A type of licence that allows creators to grant permission for others to use their work under certain conditions, such as attribution or non-commercial use.
What does 'attribution' mean in licensing?
Giving credit to the original creator when you use their work, as required by many licences like Creative Commons.
What is 'fair dealing'?
A legal doctrine in the UK that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like research, criticism, or news reporting.
What is 'fair use'?
A similar doctrine to fair dealing, used in the US, allowing limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances.
What was the Statute of Anne?
The first copyright legislation, enacted in 1710 in England and Scotland, protecting published works.
What was the Berne Convention?
An international agreement from 1886 that provided copyright protection among signatory countries; the US joined in 1989.
What is the Copyright Act of 1976 in the US?
A major overhaul that extended federal copyright to works as soon as they are created and fixed, and changed the term to life of the author plus 50 years.
What is the Licensing of the Press Act 1662?
An English law that required publications to be registered with the Stationers' Company, giving them control over what was printed.
Why did copyright develop after the printing press?
The printing press made copying cheap, so printers needed legal protection to prevent others from reprinting their works.
What is a derivative work?
A work based on or derived from one or more existing works, such as a translation, adaptation, or remix; copyright holders control making derivative works.
What is the difference between copyright and plagiarism?
Copyright is a legal right protecting the work; plagiarism is using someone's work without credit, which is unethical but not always illegal.
What does 're-purposing' content mean?
Using existing digital content in a new way or for a new purpose, which may require permission or a licence if it is copyrighted.
What is a licence?
Permission from a rights holder to use their work in specific ways, often with conditions.