Join getAbstract to access the summary!

Copyright Plain & Simple

Join getAbstract to access the summary!

Copyright Plain & Simple

Career Press,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Text available

What's inside?

If you write it, it is yours. That’s your copyright. Here’s the rest of the explanation (and that’s copyrighted, too).

Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Don’t mistake this book for one of those dry, dusty, ’just the facts, ma’am’ reference volumes. Cheryl Besenjak’s delightfully written, fascinating guide to copyright outshines many other books that merely list rules and regulations when they address aspects of the law. Besenjak brings the beauty of copyright to life, providing plenty of examples. She draws you into her subject with a chatty, yet authoritative voice. This second edition includes an up-to-date look at copyright protection and copyright infringement as it relates to the Internet and other rapidly changing technologies. getAbstract.com recommends this book to anyone who deals with written matter or intellectual property. Our work is copyrighted. Is yours?

Summary

Copyright Basics

If you create copyrighted material, you must understand your rights. Because technology now allows anyone to download art, writing, music and other creative efforts off the Internet, everyone has access to this work. This open door also makes it possible for computer users to download and profit from other people’s intellectual property quite easily, perhaps never even considering that the property is protected.

If you don’t understand copyright protection, you may find yourself in a lot of trouble. For instance, in 1993, Playboy Enterprises sued cyber vendor George Frena for transmitting digitized images of Playboy magazine photos. The court found Frena liable for infringing on Playboy Enterprise’s copyrights and trademarks.

Copyright History

Many laws protect "real" property. Copyright law protects intellectual property of all kinds. U.S. copyright law has existed since before the country was founded. It began in 1709 with the creation of England’s Statute of Anne, which also applied to actions in the colonies. America’s first copyright law of its own, the U.S. Copyright Act, was signed into law by the country’s first president, George...

About the Author

Cheryl Besenjak is the founder and director of the Permissions Group, a full-service rights and permissions consulting company, and is the publisher of copyrights c, a national newsletter that informs its readers about copyright issues across many disciplines.

Comment on this summary