Copyright stuff

By Jhett

What is the purpose of Copyright Law?

The primary purpose of copyright law is to promote the progress of science, art, and intellectual culture by granting authors and creators exclusive rights to their original work.

What are the differrent copyright categories and what category do images fall under?

Copyright categories in the U.S. include literary, musical, dramatic, choreographic, pictorial/graphic/sculptural, motion pictures, sound recordings, and architectural works. Images generally fall under pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, which covers photographs, paintings, illustrations, maps, and technical drawings. They are protected once "fixed" in a tangible medium.

What copyright categories are you allowed to use for your website?

You can protect original, creative content on your website under several copyright categories. Key categories include Literary Works (blogs, articles, text), Pictorial/Graphic Works (photos, illustrations, logos), Audiovisual Works (videos, animations), Sound Recordings (podcasts, music), and Computer Programs (source code/software).

How can you find images that you are allowed to use?

Navigate to google images
Click the "tools" button
Click "Usage Rights"
Select "creative commons licenses"

How can you check to see if an image you are using is legal for you to use?

Determine the copyright status of the image.
Look for a reuse license associated with the image.
Determine whether the use of the image falls under Fair Use.
Seek permission from the copyright owner if your use does not fall under Fair Use.

How will you be contacted if you are caught using a copyrighted image illegally

If you are caught using a copyrighted image illegally, you will typically be contacted via a formal cease-and-desist letter or email.

What are the penalties and/or fees for illegally using a copyrighted image?

Penalties for illegal use of a copyrighted image range from civil lawsuits with damages between $750 and $150,000 per work.

What do you need to do to copyright protect your images?

Copyright protection for images is automatic upon creation, but for legal enforcement, you should register images with the U.S. Copyright Office, add visible watermarks, embed metadata (EXIF/IPTC), and include a copyright notice (© [Year] [Name]). Registering allows for statutory damages in lawsuits, while technical measures deter theft.

How can you find out if someone is using one of your copyrighted images online?

To find if someone is using your copyrighted images online, use reverse image search tools like Google Images, TinEye, or Bing Visual Search to identify unauthorized copies. Automated services such as Pixsy monitor for image theft, while checking image metadata (EXIF data) and scanning for watermarks can also verify ownership. Watch this Video to help you out!

Copyright Duration & Public Domain(U.S.)
Type of work	Date of creation	Copyright term (Duration)
Individual authorship	(date of creation)	life of author + 70 years
Joint authorship		life of last surviving author + 70 years
Work made for hire		95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter
Published Before 1978	1964–1977	28 years (1st term) + 67 years (renewal) = 95 years total
Published Before 1978	1929–1963	28 years (1st term) + 67 years (renewal) = 95 years total
	1923–1928	95 years from publication (Now in Public Domain)
	Never Published/Registered	Life of author + 70 years (or until Dec 31, 2047, if shorter)
U.S. gov. Works	N/A	Generally no copyright protection