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COPYRIGHT OVERVIEW FOR DISUCSSION
Putting the "C" into Copyright.
Have you ever really noticed the copyright symbol (©) on your CD's, in books or on a video box? Do you know what that symbol actually means and how it protects creativity? As we speak, people like you who never thought about copyright are learning what it is and how it protects the world of creative ideas.
It is our intent to help you understand a little bit about copyright law by helping you focus on your own art and your own creations. Know that you are truly in charge of what you create.
Be an original!
Why Should I Care About Copyright?
When you spend a lot of time and energy creating something, aren't you proud of your work? How about that school report you finally finished, that story you wrote that your teacher loved, that poem for your Mom that made her smile, that awesome logo you came up with for your school elections, the song you wrote for the school play, or for yourself, the class play you helped write, or even your own personal journal. All of these are your creations, whether created as a group, or by yourself, and you'd probably be pretty upset if someone just copied any of them without your permission. That's where copyright comes in. Copyright law gives you a set of rights that prevents other people from copying your work and doing other things with your work that you may not like. Copyright has the power to stop people from taking other people's creations without permission.
Examples of Why You or Anybody Else Should Care:
By now, you should be very familiar with JK Rowlings, the author of the Harry Potter books. She wrote the first Harry Potter story as a single mom on welfare while sitting in coffee shops to stay warm as her infant daughter napped. She dreamt of one day being able to publish here work and of being able to support herself by writing. Eventually, she found a publisher who wanted to publish her book, and the rest is history. Now the whole world knows and loves Harry Potter …and JK Rowlings is able to support her family beyond her wildest dreams. Her ability to continue to create the books that are loved by so many is due to the fact that her ideas are protected. This is copyright power!
What if someone else had published JK Rowlings books, taken credit for her ideas and made all the money without paying her anything? How would she feel? How would she be able to continue writing?
As the creator of your work, you have the right to control what people can and cannot do with your work. Creators from the United States provide one of the world's biggest sources of works like movies, television shows, books, computer games, software, photographs, music etc. -- this right to control your work has actually turned into big business. Generally speaking, there are many businesses that distribute, publish and bring to us all the wonderful songs, television shows, books, pictures, movies, games, software and other great works that we enjoy and allow the creative people we admire to get paid for their ideas. These talented musicians, authors, illustrators and screenwriters deserve our respect and appreciation - and they deserve to make a living from the hard work they put into their creative works -- otherwise most of them wouldn't be able to produce as many (or any) of the songs, books, games, movies and TV shows that you like. That's what copyright is all about.
So….What is Copyright?
Did you know that whenever you write a poem or story or even a paper for your class, or make a drawing, photo, or other artwork, or write a song or a play, you automatically own the copyright to it as long as you have written or drawn your idea on paper, taken a photograph or in the case of music made some kind of recording if you do not know how to express your idea with musical notation? Copyright is a form of protection given to the authors or creators of "original works of authorship," including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works. Copyright laws protect "intellectual property." That is, property based on ideas or creativity rather than on physical property, such as your house, car, iPod, or backpack.
Copyright is a bundle of "exclusive rights" given to the author of any such work. What that means is that, as the author of the work, you alone have the right (the exclusive right) to do any of the following or to give others permission to do any of the following:
1. Make copies of your work;
2. Distribute copies of your work;
3. Perform your work publicly (such as for plays, film, or music);
4. Display your work publicly (such as for artwork, or any material used on the Internet or television); and
5. Make "derivative works" (including making modifications, adaptations or other new uses of a work that are derived from the original, …which also includes translating the work to another media).
In general, it is illegal for anyone to do any of the things listed above with a work created by you without your permission, but there are some exceptions and limitations to your rights as a copyright holder. One major limitation is the doctrine of "Fair Use." The "Fair Use" doctrine allows limited copying of copyrighted works for educational and research purposes. This topic is more clearly explained in "Copyright Basics" and in the Articles section of this website.
Finally:
Copyright law was created to protect all of us, by allowing us to make money with our own creations and to enjoy the creative works of others. Choosing to follow the copyright laws allows us to support the rights of all creative people…creative people like you!
Remember…be an original!
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