Copyright - Resources for Artists

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You can find out about....................

just click on a link to go straight to that topic

This a very BIG site and there ere are lots of links to helpful websites and reference sources sitting below these headings

The site starts by focusing on the law and regulations in different countries
It moves on to consider the copyright issues for artists

Finally it looks at ways to STOP content theft and plagiarism

What this site covers
COPYRIGHT LAW IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
THE DIGITAL ECONOMY - BILLS AND ACTS
INTELLECTUAL COPYRIGHT LAW - ALTERNATIVE SITES
COPYRIGHT AND THE VISUAL ARTIST
ART, THE ARTIST AND FAIR USE
STOPPING CONTENT THEFT AND PLAGIARISM
How to find your picture on the Internet
Sites logging Cease and Desist notices & Copyright Infringement
NEWS ABOUT COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Comments and suggestions

What this site covers

Intellectual property covers Copyright; Designs; Patents and Trade Marks.

Orphan artworks are works of art where the person who created it cannot be found - even if they can be identified.

The first part of this website deals with the government websites which relate to how copyright is handled in different countries.

The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
The World Intellectual Property Organization (a UN Agency)
Copyright and Intellectual Property in Europe
Copyright and Intellectual Property in the UK
Copyright and Intellectual Property in the USA
Copyright and Intellectual Property in Australia

The next part deals with the moving target which is the digital economy and includes intellectual property websites and includes links to civil liberties sites.

How copyright relates to art and the artist is the topic for the third section. This includes

sites discussing fair use, derivative works and painting from photos
sites discussing Orphan Works
websites and blogs helpful to artists re copyright

Finally, this website covers sites which are helpful to those trying to prevent content theft or respond to plagiarism

sites discussing content theft and how to deal with it
plus tools which address content theft

IMPORTANT - DISCLAIMER
Please note that I am not a lawyer. I am not engaged in offering professional or legal advice. I take no responsibility for and have no liability in relation to your reliance on any of the information offered by the sites listed here. I'm just sharing what I've found. Most of the people writing on the internet are sharing their experiences and offering their opinions. It's up to you to make sure your research is thorough enough for your purposes. If you need professional advice then I suggest you contract with the appropriate professional.

BOOK: Patent, Copyright & Trademark

An Intellectual Property Desk Reference

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The 11th edition includes an expanded dictionary of borderline IP terms and reflects the many changes resulting from legislation and case law. It also includes a new Q&A section excerpted from the author's regularly updated "Dear Rich" blog.

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Important!

COPYRIGHT LAW IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Not every country has the same law on copyright

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works & WIPO

The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, usually known as the Berne Convention, is an international agreement about copyright, which was first accepted in Berne, Switzerland in 1886.

The World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO was created in 1967 with the stated purpose "to encourage creative activity, [and] to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world".

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works - Wikisource: Document - Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works From Wikisource
(Redirected from Berne Convention)
WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization: WIPO, The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) homepage, entry point for information about industrial property and copyright.
Treaties and Contracting Parties: WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT): WIPO Copyright Treaty
Full text of the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)

The WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), deals with protection for authors of literary and artistic works, such as writings and computer programs; original databases; musical works; audiovisual works; works of fine art and photographs.
Copyright and Related Rights: Copyright and related rights are legal concepts and instruments which, while respecting and protecting the rights of creators in their works, should also contribute to the cultural and economic development of nations.

WIPO, through its Copyright and Related Rights Sector, is committed to the development of international norms and standards in the area of copyright.
Copyright and Related Rights - Frequently Asked Questions: Index of Frequently Asked Questions about Copyright.
E-Commerce and Copyright: E-Commerce and Copyright
The emergence of new digital information technologies, such as the Internet, has had a
significant impact on copyright and related rights,
WIPO Guide on Managing Intellectual Property For Museums: Museums, and the broader cultural heritage community, now have access to a new guide to help them use the intellectual property (IP) system to improve the management of their collections in the digital environment. The "WIPO Guide on Managing Intellectual Property for Museums" recognizes the important role that IP plays in providing access to collections, and in preserving and managing the valuable works they contain. A printed version of the Guide will be available shortly.
PATENTSCOPE®: WIPO's Gateway to Patent Services and Activities
- Access to the World of Technology PATENTSCOPE Search Service
- Notable PCT Inventions
- PCT Trends & Performance Indicators
Trademarks Gateway: Trademarks Gateway
Trademarks are distinctive signs, used to differentiate between identical or similar goods and services offered by different producers or services providers.
Industrial Designs Gateway: Industrial Designs Gateway
Industrial designs, also referred to simply as designs,concern the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of products. Industrial Designs are a type of industrial property, protected by intellectual property rights
Geographical Indications Gateway: Geographical Indications Gateway
A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that origin.
World Intellectual Property Organization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: World Intellectual Property Organization From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) [1] is one of the 16 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO was created in 1967 with the stated purpose "to encourage creative activity, [and] to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world". [2]
Copyright : Information Resources: Working documents, studies and publications prepared/commissioned by WIPO on topics related to copyright.
Online Forum on Intellectual Property in the Information Society: Online Forum on Intellectual Property in the Information Society.

WIPO - The World Intellectual Property Organisation

IP = Intellectual Property

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has a mandate from its Member States to promote an understanding about the value of Intellectual Property and how to protect it everywhere in the world. It pursues this goal via cooperation among between states and collaboration with other international organisations.

What is WIPO?: What is WIPO?
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.
What is Intellectual Property?: What is Intellectual Property?
Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.

Intellectual property is divided into two categories:
* Industrial property, which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications of source; and
* Copyright, which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs. Rights related to copyright include those of performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television programs.
Core Tasks of WIPO: WIPO is responsible for
* Developing international IP laws and standards
* Delivering global IP protection services
* Encouraging the use of IP for economic development
* Promoting better understanding of IP
* Providing a forum for debate

Copyright in the European Union

The copyright industries are critically important to the European Community because they involve media, cultural, and knowledge industries. Development in the industries is indicative of performance in post-industrial society especially where related to the information society.

The European legal framework is known as the acquis

Internal Market - Copyright and Neighbouring Rights - Index: European Commission - Copyright and related rights provide an incentive for the creation of and investment in new works and other protected matter (music, films, print media, software, performances, broadcasts, etc.) and their exploitation, thereby contributing to improved competitiveness, employmen
Internal Market - COPYRIGHT AND NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS - News: European Commission - Copyright and related rights

LATEST NEWS
European Union - Green Paper on copyright in the knowledge economy: The Commission adopted a Green Paper on copyright in the knowledge economy

The Green Paper focuses on the role of copyright in fostering dissemination of knowledge for research, science and education. The Green Paper is intended as the starting point for a structured debate on the long-term future of copyright policy in these fields. Copyright policy has increasingly emerged as a transversal issue, involving not only the internal market and cultural policies but also information society, competition and consumer interests. The Green Paper is an attempt to organise this debate and point to future challenges in fields that have not been a focal point up to now, e.g. scientific and scholarly publishing, and the role of libraries, researchers and the persons with a disability.
Rapid - Press Releases - EUROPA: IP/08/1156 - Brussels, 16 July 2008
Intellectual Property: Commission adopts forward-looking package
The European Commission today adopted two initiatives in the area of copyright.
Making a Mark: Visual artists and Copyright in the Knowledge Economy: Last week the European Commission published a Green Paper Copyright in the Knowledge Economy (pdf file). It starts from the presumption that it has to reconcile the protection of the legitimate interests of the rightholders with the wider goal of access to knowledge. So it starts from the perspective of two admirable aims.

It is not an infringement of the copyright in a work if you draw, take a photograph or make a film of, buildings or sculptures or works of artistic craftsmanship which are located in a public places or in premises open to the public.

Copyright in the UK

includes UK Government websites about copyright

See also the links to the European Framework for Copyright Law in the module immediately above

UK Intellectual Property Office - Copyright: Copyright advice from the UK government

Copyright applies to Art

Copyright applies to original artistic works such as paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, photographs, diagrams, maps, works of architecture and works of artistic craftsmanship.

So, for example, cartoon characters may have copyright protection and if you wish to copy the characters onto cakes, wallpaper and so on, you will almost certainly need a licence to do this to avoid infringing copyright.

If you wish to use or copy copyright protected artistic works you may need the permission for the rights holder, unless copyright exceptions apply......(more)

The creator of the work will be the author and first owner and copyright will last for life of the author plus 70 years.

Copyright is, however, a form of intellectual property which, like physical property, can be bought or sold, inherited or otherwise transferred, wholly or in part. So, some or all of the economic rights may subsequently belong to someone other than the first owner.
UK Intellectual Property Office - Art: Copyright applies to original artistic works such as paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, photographs, diagrams, maps, works of architecture and works of artistic craftsmanship.
What is Intellectual Property?: UK Intellectual Property Office - What is Intellectual Property?
Intellectual property (IP) can allow you to own things you create in a similar way to owning physical property. You can control the use of your IP, and use it to gain reward. This encourages further innovation and creativity. The four main types of IP are:
- Copyright
- Designs
- Patents
- Trade Marks
EUR-Lex - 32001L0029 - EN: EUR-Lex provides direct free access to European Union law.

Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society
Intellectual Property Office - Automatic right: There is no official registration system for copyright in the United Kingdom (UK) and most other parts of the world. There are no forms to fill in and no fees to pay to get copyright protection.

So long as you have created and fixed, for example in writing, an original work that qualifies for copyright protection, that is it falls into one of the categories of material protected by copyright, you will have copyright protection without having to do anything to establish this. It is a requirement of various international conventions on copyright that copyright should be automatic with no need to register.

To help protect your copyright work, it is advisable to mark it with the © symbol, the name of the copyright owner and the year in which the work was created. Although this is not essential, it will let others know when the term of protection started and it should then be possible to calculate whether it has ended or not. It will also indicate who the owner was at that time in case it is then necessary to approach them should you need to ask permission to use the work.
Intellectual Property Office - Copyright registers: There is no official copyright register because copyright is automatic. There are certain steps you can take to protect your rights, but you do not have to register anywhere.
Intellectual Property Office - Copyright applies to...: Copyright applies to many things (each of these has a link which explains more on the website)
Original works: Most works must be original to have copyright protection.
Websites and the internet: The same rules apply on the internet as with other medium.
Written work including software and databases: Software and databases can be protected as written work.
Theatre: Dance and mime can receive protection too.
Music: Music can have numerous types of work capable of protection.
Artistic works including photographs: Photographs are also artistic works.
Spoken word and performers: Performers of spoken word may receive protection.
TV and Film: Numerous types of work can be protected in the case of TV and film.
Intellectual Property Office - Ownership of copyright works: Ownership of copyright works - each of these is explained in more detail on the website

Creator and first owner: The creator of an original copyright work is usually the first owner.
Works created for an employer: The same rule does not apply for works created by an employee in the course of his employment.
Commissioned works: For some works the rule governing commissioned works changed in 1989.
Joint authors: A single work may be created and owned by more than one person.
Intellectual Property Office - How long copyright lasts: How long copyright lasts (click for more info)

The length of time a copyright work is protected will depend upon the category or type of work and is usually calculated from the death of the creator.

Written, Theatrical, Musical, Artistic and Film
The written category also includes software and databases
Other types of work have different terms of protection: Sound Recordings | Broadcasts | Published editions |
Intellectual Property Office - How long copyright lasts - Frequently asked questions: How long copyright lasts - Frequently asked questions
* How long does copyright last?
* Is there any protection after copyright expires?
* What is extended and revived copyright?
* How long does copyright last in unpublished works such as manuscripts?

Copyright and Intellectual Property in the USA

includes American Government websites about copyright

Not all countries operate copyright law in the same way - and the USA is one of them.

Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.

Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed.

Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device.

The United States has copyright relations with most countries throughout the world, and as a result of these agreements, we honor each other's citizens' copyrights. However, the United States does not have such copyright relationships with every country.

(Extracted from Copyright in General)

U.S. Copyright Office: U.S. Copyright Office is an office of public record for copyright registration and deposit of copyright material.
United States Patent and Trademark Office Home Page: The only official Website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office - lots of useful information and regular updates
Copyright Office Basics: U.S. Copyright Office is an office of public record for copyright registration and deposit of copyright material.
U.S. Copyright Office - Frequently Asked Questions: The Copyright Office offers introductory answers to frequently asked questions about copyright, registration, and services of the Office. Click on a subject heading below to view questions and answers relating to your selection. Links throughout the answers will guide you to further information on our website or from other sources.
Copyright Office Basics: U.S. Copyright Office is an office of public record for copyright registration and deposit of copyright material.
U.S. Copyright Office - Visual Art Works Registration: U.S. Copyright Office instructions for registering works of the visual arts.
The Anatomy of a Copyright Case: The Anatomy of a Copyright Case
Joshua Kaufman © 20001 (Joshua Kaufman is one of the USA's leading art and licensing lawyers. Many of his published arts on art law, copyright, licensing and e-commerce can be found on his web site at, www.jjkaufman.com)

Copyright Law in the USA

Exclusive rights of the copyright owner (section 106 , title 17, U.S. Code):

1. To reproduce the work
2. To prepare derivative works
3. To distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale, rental, lease, or lending
4. In the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works, to perform the work publicly
5. In the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, to display the copyrighted work publicly
6. In the case of sound recordings, to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission

U.S. Copyright Office - Copyright Law of the United States: Copyright Laws of the USA and related laws
Complete version of the U.S. Copyright Law, October 2007: pdf file = 2.5mb
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) 1998: THE DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT OF 1998
U.S. Copyright Office Summary

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)1 was signed into law by President Clinton on October 28, 1998. The legislation implements two 1996 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties: the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. The DMCA also addresses a number of other significant copyright-related issues
Digital Millennium Copyright Act - Wikisource: Digital Millennium Copyright Act From Wikisource
From the U.S. Copyright Office.112 Stat. 2860
Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp., 36 F. Supp. 2d 191 (S.D.N.Y. 1999), was a decision by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which ruled that exact photographic copies of public domain images could not be protected by copyright because the copies lack originality.

Even if accurate reproductions require a great deal of skill, experience and effort, the key element for copyrightability under U.S. law is that copyrighted material must show sufficient originality.
Bill - The "Stop OInline Piracy" Act: A BILL To promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.
Stop Online Piracy Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), also known as H.R.3261, was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on October 26, 2011, by Representative Lamar Smith [R-TX] and a bipartisan group of 12 initial co-sponsors. The bill expands the ability of U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods.

Copyright and intellectual property in Australia

includes Australian Government websites about copyright

Australian Government Attorney-General's Department - Copyright: Th Australian Government administers copyright. This is the page about their Copyright and Classification Policy
IP Australia - Welcome to the home page of IP Australia: IP Australia is the Government organisation that administers the patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder's rights system
IP Australia : What is Intellectual Property? > Copyright: What is copyright?
Copyright protects the original expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. It is free and automatically safeguards your original works of art and literature, music, films, sound recording, broadcasts and computer programs from copying and certain other uses. Copyright is not registered in Australia.
Australian Copyright Council: Australian Copyright Council
Supporting a creative Australia through information, advocacy and legal advice on copyright
Australian Government Attorney-General's Department - e-News on Copyright: e-News on Copyrighte-News on Copyright - Past issues2
Smartcopying - The Official Guide to Copyright Issues for Australian Schools and TAFE: A guide to copyright issues affecting schools and TAFE
The most commonly asked questions about copyright in schools and TAFE
A series of information sheets providing useful facts and scenarios on copyright for schools and TAFE

The Smartcopying Website has been produced on behalf of the Copyright Advisory Group, a committee of the Schools Resourcing Taskforce (SRT) of the Australian Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA).

The History of Copyright Law

Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900): This is a digital archive of primary sources on copyright from the invention of the printing press (c. 1450) to the Berne Convention (1886) and beyond. The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded the initial phase focusing on key materials from Renaissance Italy (Venice, Rome), France, the German speaking countries, Britain and the United States.

BOOKS: The History of Copyright Law

Important!

THE DIGITAL ECONOMY - BILLS AND ACTS

This currently has the status of a moving target as Digital Rights Acts are being discussed, enacted, reviewed, revised etc

Digital Economy Act 2010

enacted June 2010

The Bill implements aspects of Government policy on digital media set out in the 'Digital Britain' White Paper published in June 2009.

Key areas relating to copyright include:

* extends the role of Ofcom to include reporting on communications infrastructure and media content
* imposes obligations on internet service providers to reduce online copyright infringement
* allows the Secretary of State to intervene in internet domain name registration
* provides Ofcom with additional powers in relation to electromagnetic spectrum access
* extends the range of video games that are subject to age-related classification
* makes provision for the regulation of copyright licensing
* includes non-print formats in the public lending right payment scheme

Prior to the Bill reaching the Commons The House of Lords voted to drop Clause 17 from the Bill which would have given the government sweeping powers to change copyright law without first having to consult Parliament.

There was very considerable opposition to a number of parts of the Bill (based on lack of understanding of the technology and the way things work; practical problems; compromise of the businesses of individuals etc) and the process adopted for enabling it to pass into legislation was extremely irregular in terms of Parliamentary Process.

The bill became the Digital Economy Act 2010 in June 2010

Parliament : Digital Economy Bill [HL]: The Digital Economy Bill was presented to the Commons on 16 March 2010. This is known as First Reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.

This Bill was on the Order Paper for a Second Reading debate on 6 April 2010. The Committee and Third reading stages for this Bill will take place on 7 April 2010.

Further information about the progress of the Bill can be found on the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills' Digital Economy Bill page. (see below)
Digital Economy Bill [HL]: Read the Bill - major section regarding online infringement of copyright
Digital Britain - Digital Economy Bill: Digital Britain outlines the Government's strategic vision for ensuring that the UK is at the leading edge of the global digital economy.
House of Commons - Digital Economy Bill - Explanatory Note: Click the link to see detailed notes
Twitter and #debill: Real-time results for #debill
#debill is a popular topic on Twitter right now.Trend Info

Digital Economy Bill, in the UK. The opposition started using this hashtag in addition to #whatdebill as part of their mobilization to protest the proposed legislation.

36,358 Tweets from 8,183 Tweeters about #debill on 7th April 2010; it ranked as #3 trending topic worldwide
Future of Digital Economy Act 'in limbo' until next year, say lawyers | Technology | guardian.co.uk: Divisive government plans to crackdown on illicit filesharing dealt blow in court - but lawyers say win is just an 'adjunct' to wider campaign against act

This has implications for changes in copyright law

Digital Economy Bill and Orphan Works

explaining the opposition to Clause 43

Photographers, professional and amateurs alike, criticised the bill especially Clause 43 (formerly Clause 42) which deals with orphan works and Extended Collective Licencing.

The photographers case against the bill is explained at stop43.org.uk.
Clause 43 was dropped from the Bill during the Committee stage debate.

Some authors also criticise the bill and the group Action for Authors' Rights, has released a detailed briefing on the Copyright Clauses of the Digital Economy Bill.

House of Commons - Explanatory Note for Clause 43: Topic 10: Copyright and performers' property rights: licensing and penalties
Clause 43: Extension and regulation of licensing of copyright and performers' rights
stop43.org.uk: Stop Commercial Orphan Works Exploitation in the UK Digital Economy Bill Clause 43: Stop43.org.uk
Stop Commercial Orphan Works Exploitation in the UK Digital Economy Bill Clause 43

This site was set up by various photographers organisations working collaboratively to stop their photographs being exploited by Clause 43 relating to orphan works
Why the IPO is wrong | Copyright Action: The Intellectual Property Office put up a page to reassure photographers just over a week ago. It reflects the Government position regarding orphan works provision in the Digital Economy Bill, and what Labour MP's are being told when they raise the matter with relevant ministers. Unfortunately it signals continuing failure to understand the issues. We find it necessary to yet again attempt to explain to this constitutionally deaf Government why, although nobody objects to genuine, non-profit use of cultural orphans for the public good, what it has constructed is a recipe for abuse and destruction.
Action on Author's Rights: Action on Authors' Rights is a grassroots group set up to campaign in the UK in support of authors' rights.

The Bill would permit works whose rights-owners reportedly could not be traced to be used for commercial purposes. It is regrettable that the Bill uses the emotive and inaccurate term 'orphan works' for what might be more properly termed 'works with unlocated copyright-owners'.

In the case of printed written works, it has not been shown that legislation of this kind is needed. No evidence has been produced that publishers seeking to reprint, editors seeking to anthologise, or authors wishing to make adaptations experience significant difficulties in tracing rights-owners of out-of-print written works, and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to the contrary. Moreover, the ALCS reports a very high degree of success in identifying and contacting authors of out-of-print works for the purpose of paying fees for photocopy revenues.

Books and other print publications are among the least likely creative products to become 'orphaned'. Virtually all published written works carry the names of author and publisher and the publisher's address. Meanwhile, since the development of the web, it has never been easier to trace authors, authors' representatives, publishers, and, where relevant, business takeovers
Action on Authors' Rights - Briefing on the Copyright Clauses in the Digital Economy Bill: Action on Authors' Rights is a network of authors and agents campaigning from the grass-roots in support of authors' rights

Without the original creative work of authors, publishers and booksellers would have nothing to sell. It is authors who produce the value on which the entire publishing industry depends.

The Government has stated that the aim of the Digital Economy Bill is to 'drive the UK's vital creative and digital sectors to bolster future growth and jobs'.2 This can only be achieved under conditions that sustain the work of freelance authors and other creators.

Control of their copyrights provides authors with an indispensable incentive: it is the basis on which they negotiate payment for their work, and it is also the basis on which they are able to plan and shape their careers, and manage their personal 'brand'.

Copyright is the exclusive right to authorize the reproduction of the work in any medium or format. It cannot be reduced to a simple right to remuneration.

The proposal to impose extended collective licensing in the case of works whose authors are known or easily traced is thoroughly objectionable. The Government has presented no arguments to justify its introduction.

The proposals for 'orphan works' licensing are crucially lacking in the safeguards required to protect the rights of unlocated authors and prevent abuses.

Digital Economy Bill: Useful articles

At the moment I'm collecting what's available that attempts to explain what it all means. There will be sifting and sorting later

Digital Economy Bill: Quick Guide To All 45 Measures: The controversial Digital Economy Bill may have had a few parts stripped out, it may even be a damp squib. But the remaining, 76-page bill is still a wide-ranging piece of media and technology reform.

Confused? Read our clause-by-clause guide to the bill as it stands now after being adopted by the House Of Commons and as it awaits Royal Assent%u2026
Open Rights Group | Brief on Digital Economy Bill: After the budget, the Bill could be passed with little or no debate, as the election must be called within the next few weeks. The result could be that the Bill becomes law in very bad shape.

The Bill is technical and deep problems are unresolved. Rushing through disconnection and website blocking would be undemocratic and an abuse of Parliamentary power; it would show contempt for back benchers and be a serious blow for the legitimacy of the legislation.

BOOKS: Copyright and the Internet - Practice

Important!

INTELLECTUAL COPYRIGHT LAW - ALTERNATIVE SITES

Intellectual Property - Copyright Law

Intellectual Property Law Server - Copyright: The Copyright Page@intelproplaw.com provides general information on copyright law including forums, legal services directory, publication of related articles and further copyright links

The Intellectual Property Law Server has been online since March 1997 and serves approximately 15 million pages a year. The Server provides information about intellectual property law including patent, trademark and copyright. Resources include comprehensive links, general information, space for professionals to publish articles and forums for discussing related issues.
.
Professor Lawrence Lessig: Stanford professor and lawyer who represented web site operator Eric Eldred in the case Eldred v. Ashcroft. Brief biography, resume, schedule of his classes, articles, lectures, and information on his books.

Code v2.0 by Lawrence Lessig

a landmark publication in relation copyright and the law of cyberspace

Codev2 by Lawrence Lessig

From the Preface: "This is a translation of an old book-indeed, in Internet time, it is a translation of an ancient text." That text is Lessig's "Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace." The second version of that book is "Code v2." The aim of Code v2 is to update the earlier work, making its argument more relevant to the current internet.

Code v2 was written in part through a collaborative Wiki. That version is still accessible here. Lessig took the Wiki text as of 12/31/05, and then added his own edits. Code v2 is the result.

The Wiki text was licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License. So too is the derivative. Reflecting the contributions of the community to this new work, all royalties have been dedicated to Creative Commons.

You can download the full text in PDF form. The text is also available in a Wiki hosted by SocialText. And obviously, you can also buy the book at the links to the right. (A wise choice, as it is cheaper than printing the book in most contexts.)

Code v2 by Lawrence Lessig is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License.

Non-Government Copyright sites (civil liberties)

Chilling Effects Clearinghouse: Do you know your online rights? How often are legal threats used to silence Internet activity? Help us to find out and counter baseless threats with the "chilling effects clearinghouse." We are gathering a database of cease and desist notices sent to Internet users, and analyzing those let
Electronic Frontier Foundation | Defending Freedom in the Digital World: EFF is the leading civil liberties group defending your rights in the digital world.

BOOKS: Copyright and the Internet - The Philosophy and the Questions

Important!

COPYRIGHT AND THE VISUAL ARTIST

How does copyright apply to art and the visual artist?

BOOKS: Copyright and the Visual Arts

books on Amazon

Orphan Works proposals - and what they mean for artwork, artists and bloggers

Includes links to sites which tell you how to lobby against the proposals

"Orphan Works" are copyrighted works - books, music, records, films, etc - whose owner cannot be located.

Works can become "orphaned" for a number of reasons:
- the owner did not register the work,
- the owner sold rights in the work and did not register the transfer,
- the owner died and his heirs cannot be found.

OVER 81 CREATOR ORGANISATIONS OPPOSE THE U.S. ORPHAN WORKS ACT of 2008.
The Illustrators Partership (and others) are leading the fight on behalf of all visual artists against the The U.S. Orphan Works Act of 2008.

The proposed changes to copyright law threaten the exclusive rights and copyright protections afforded to visual artists by the 1976 U.S. Copyright Act and international treaties and copyright conventions.

Bill re. The Orphan Works Act of 2008 (H.R. 5889): House of Representatives - link to a PDF of The Orphan Works Act of 2008 (H.R. 5889)

To provide a limitation on judicial remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works.
Bill re. Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008: Senate - link to a pdf of the Bill re. Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

To provide a limitation on judicial remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works
U.S. Copyright Office - Orphan Works: Congressional Testimony on Orphan Works

Statement of Marybeth Peters, The Register of Copyrights before the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Committee on the Judiciary on The "Orphan Works" Problem and Proposed Legislation.
Orphan Works Opposition Headquarters: Orphan Works Opposition Headquarters. Dedicated to opposing the Orphan Works legislation. (The Shawn Bentley Orphan Acts of 2008 (S. 2913) and The Orphan Works Act of 2008 (H.R. 5889))
IPA - Groups Opposing the Orphan Works Bills as Written: Groups Opposing the Orphan Works Bills as Written
by Artists United Against the U.S. Orphan Works Acts

The following organizations oppose H.R. 5889, The Orphan Works Act of 2008 and S. 2913, The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008 because each bill permits, and even encourages, wide-scale infringements while depriving creators of protections currently available under the Copyright Act.
Illustrators Partnership - Legislative Action Center: Take Action: Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work

This site makes it easy for you to communicate with your members of Congress. Please feel free to use the templates below and when you fill out your address, your members of Congress will be automatically identified.
Little Orphan Artworks by Lawrence Lessig: Little Orphan Artworks by Lawrence Lessig, a Law Professor at Stanford University for the New York Times (20th May 2008)

You'll need to register with the New York Times to read this
Animation World Magazine: Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art By Mark Simon: Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art By Mark Simon
April 10, 2008

Mark Simon is mad as hell and, in this month's "Mind Your Business," he tells you why you should be too.
What Orphan Works Could Mean to Bloggers : The Blog Herald: What Orphan Works Could Mean to Bloggers
April 28, 2008 | By Jonathan Bailey

The orphan works legislation, last seen in 2006, now has the attention of Congress again with two similar bills, one in the House and one in the Senate. These bills, should either of them pass, could have a drastic impact on copyright holders both within and outside of the United States.
Orphan works - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Orphan works From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search
An orphan work is a copyrighted work where it is difficult or impossible to contact the copyright holder. This situation can arise for many reasons. The author could have never been publicly known because the work w
Artists Network - Understanding the Orphan Works Controversy: Understanding the Orphan Works Controversy - The Artists Network, the leading online destination for art inspiration, tips and products
The Illustrators Partnership Orphan Works Blog: Over 81 creators' organizations oppose the U.S. Orphan Works Bills.
IPA - For our International Friends and Colleagues: For our International Friends and Colleagues
by The Illustrators' Partnership
The Illustrators Partnership Orphan Works Blog - Orphan Works: A Public Knowledge Postmortem: Orphan Works: A Public Knowledge Postmortem
ESSENTIAL READING
Orphan Works: Lame Duck Countdown Part I. Little Known Facts: ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP ORPHAN WORKS BLOG - Lame Duck Part I

Congress will reconvene for a lame duck session next week. That means Orphan Works backers may try again to pass their bill by suspending the rules. We believe this bill is too controversial to be passed by backroom dealing. It would let commercial interests harvest and monetize the personal property of ordinary citizens without their knowledge.
Orphan Works Lame Duck Countdown: Part II. The Legislative Blueprint: ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP ORPHAN WORKS BLOG - Lame Duck Part 2

The "legislative blueprint" for the Orphan Works Act was not drafted by the Copyright Office after their year-long Orphan Works study, but before it, by law students at the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic.

Their Copyright Clearance Initiative (CCI) is the document that first proposed the "limitation on remedies" that would radically change international copyright law.
Orphan Works | Public Knowledge: Since 2005, efforts have been underway to solve the Orphan Works problem.

Public Knowledge and many other organizations have proposed that the law should allow use of an orphan work if the user searched for the copyright owner in good faith and with reasonable diligence but failed to find the owner to ask permission.

The copyright office recommends a similar solution, differing only in how the remedies would be limited.

Groups of copyright holders, mainly photographers, illustrators, graphic artists, and textile designers, have opposed both specific aspects of our proposals and the Copyright Office recommendations and any attempts to permit use without consent.

Public Knowledge and other proponents of an orphan works policy are hopeful that, working with other copyright holders, we can work toward a common policy goal of making sure orphan owners are found.
British Journal of Photography - Act now!: Photography magazine for professional photographers. Includes pics, reviews, weekly news, photo temp.htmls, competitions etc. World's oldest (est 1854) photography mag.
Little Orphan Artworks - New York Times: The problem of "orphan works", those works whose owners cannot be found, is real, but the solution before Congress is both unfair and unwise.

CONGRESS is considering a major reform of copyright law intended to solve the problem of "orphan works" - those works whose owner cannot be found. This "reform" would be an amazingly onerous and inefficient change, which would unfairly and unnecessarily burden copyright holders with little return to the public.
Orphan Works: A Lame Duck Countdown Part III: 215 Letters: Nearly 300 million people live in the US. How many of them does it take to make an "orphan works problem"? Apparently 215 (give or take a few). That's the only conclusion we can draw from the Report on Orphan Works released by the Copyright Office in 2006.

Copyright and the law for visual artists - helpful blogs

Some of these blogs and websites are specifically aimed at visual artists, others are more generic but have relevance to visual artists

The Art Law Blog: Donn Zaretsky of John Silberman Associates blogs about interesting aspects of art law and legal cases
SEO - Search Engine Optimization | Read SEOmoz, Rank Better: SEOmoz is a hub for the search marketing industry, providing an SEO Services Marketplace, a popular SEO Blog, SEO Tools and premium content.

Search on 'copyright' to come up with a collection of references relating to copyright.
Lorelle on WordPress: News for WordPress users and a guide to doing more with a WordPress weblog.

Lorelle provides expert practical advice on dealing with copyright infringements relating to theft of content on the internet.
The Illustrators Partnership Orphan Works Blog: Updates for visual artists about The U.S. Orphan Works Act of 2008.

The proposed changes to copyright law threaten the exclusive rights and copyright protections afforded to visual artists by the 1976 U.S. Copyright Act and international treaties and copyright conventions.

Includes the archive from Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works Resource Page)
Fairly Used: Stanford Copyright & Fair Use Center
Fairly Used Blog

Copyright for Artists - helpful articles

FAR Columnist: Cindy Hill - Copyright and the Rights of Models: Fine Art Registry: FAR Columnist Cindy Hill - Lawyer and Art Collector - Article: Copyright and the Rights of Models

Interesting article which highlights various aspects of copyright law and the model release. (Note: Also serves to highlight the FAR service)
Legal Tips for Artists, Do Not Copy: Copyright Law Prohibits Rendering a Close Copy of Another Artist's Works, Fine Art Registry article - legal art: Fine Art Registry - Article: Legal Tips for Artists, Do Not Copy: Copyright Law Prohibits Rendering a Close Copy of Another Artist's Works - Art Legal series

A reader recently enquired about the legality of being hired to render a close copy of another artist's original works.............

This article comments on the legality of copying the work of other artists and the nature of a copy and a derivative work and violations of copyright law. It also identifies where copying is allowed and the notions of fair use, transformation and copyright infringement.
FAR Columnist: Cindy Hill - Hot Air, Shells, and Flowers: Can You Copyright an Inspiration?: Fine Art Registry: FAR Columnist Cindy Hill - Lawyer and Art Collector - Article: Hot Air, Shells, and Flowers - Can You Copyright an Inspiration?

A very interesting article which comments on 'business art' and the production of art in the name of an artist by other workers. It questions whether 'styles' of art can be copyrighted.

It also comments on the Chihuly lawsuits against a rival - and former employee - glassblower and one of his contract suppliers and looks at the issue of images produced by nature and the concept of common heritage.

Available as a pdf file to download
It's Your Work: Prove It | The Blog Herald: What to do when a website accuses you of infringing copyright because somebody else has uploaded your work to their site.

Also discusses repudiation services
Copyright Myths Debunked : Art + Law + Blog: The artLaw blog help people make, sell and monetize art and provide support in fights over art.
If You Post Your Works on Social Networking Sites, Pay Close Attention to Your Privacy Settings Options : Art + Law + Blog: The issue is not about posting pictures online; it's about access. Problems can arise pictures are posted automatically profiles on a social networking site. Although the creative commons license covered the pictures on the first site, privacy settings can allow advertisers access to the photos when posted on a profile.
Copyright Pitfall No. 1: When Nature Inspires Your Art, Watch Out : Art + Law + Blog: By Tobias Butler, Attorney at Law
Copyright law is prejudiced against art that depicts nature. Faithful recreations of nature by themselves are simply not copyrightable. And, regardless of the beauty and innovation of a work of art, it can miss copyright protection if the artist fails to incorporate anything beyond exact elements from the natural world.
Copyright Pitfall No. 2: When Nature Inspires Your Art, Make Sure You Copy Only Mother Nature : Art + Law + Blog: When it comes to enforcing your copyright in a court, nature-based works are a double-edged sword. As we discussed before in Pitfall No. 1, your original elements list will be shorter because many aspects of the work come from mother nature herself. Her work cannot be original to you.
WHAT IS ART - A CHART : Art + Law + Blog: Take a look at the chart entitled: "WHAT IS ART?" to find out what art is copyrightable....
Making a Mark: The farce of the Digital Economy Bill: This is the Bill which if enacted will change laws relating to copyright and orphan works and all manner of things which will affect individual artists. It's relevant to you if you live in the UK and you should be concerned with the way it is NOT being debated properly.
The Art Law Blog: "Copyright law needs to be simpler, understandable, and more flexible to change with the times": The Art Law Blog highlights the report of the report of the Copyright Principles Project
The Equine Art Protection League saddles up | Minnesota Public Radio News: A St. Paul artist named Lynn Maderich has been victimized by Internet art fraud. Her speciality is equine art, which is in extremely high demand all over the world. She was recently tipped off that a forged copy of one of her prize-winning paintings was up for sale on eBay. Her source: the Equine Art Protection League

Copyright - Information and Advice websites

This module is reserved for websites where the authors have developed a comprehensive resource

Copyright Advisory Network: A community of librarians, copyright scholars, policy wonks. Join us.Please feel free to use the forums,resources,or blog. This website is a way for librarians to learn about copyright and seek feedback and advice from fellow librarians and copyright specialists.
Harvard Law School - The Artist's Rights: Image Rights
Copyright - including case law re. appropriation of art and derivatives
Moral Rights
Resale Right
What is Copyright Protection?: Note: This is a non-profit web site that contains basic and general copyright information provided for educational purposes only. The owner of this web site does not answer copyright questions, debate or provide free legal advice.
5 Essential Copyright Resources for Artists « Escape From Illustration Island – Illustration Resources and Community: Escape From Illustration Island - Illustration Resources and Community
5 Essential Copyright Resources for Artists
April 9, 2010 by Thomas James

Collective Licensing Authorities (UK)

This details various bodies involved with the licensing of copyright in the UK - the most important of which is DACS - the Design and Artists Copyright Society

Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS): Established by artists for artists, DACS is a not-for-profit visual arts rights management organisation. DACS translates rights into revenues and recognition for a wide spectrum of visual artists. We provide three rights management services for artists: Payback, Artist's Resale Right and Copyright Licensing.
Design and Artists Copyright Society - FAQs: Copyright is a complex area of law, and there is no substitute for individual advice. But we have compiled a wide range of fact sheets on copyright and related issues affecting visual creators and artistic works which you may find helpful. All these are downloadable as PDF files.
CPLG: Copyright Promotions Licensing Group: Home: Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd was founded in 1974 and is Europe's leading licensing agency, with offices in seven major European cities.
Copyrights Group Ltd: RM Enterprises was formed in 1984 to provide thoughtful and effective development of character licensing. Since that time, our comprehensive merchandise programs have generated very successful retail business for our Licensees and Licensors.

Important!

ART, THE ARTIST AND FAIR USE

What is "Fair Use" How does it apply to art and artists?

Copyright - Derivative Works

A derivative work pertaining to copyright law, is an expressive creation that includes major, copyright-protected elements of an original, previously created first work.

Derivative works walk a fine line between copyright infrigement and eligibility for copyright protection. Generally, the test will be whether there is sufficient originality in the alleged derivative work; that it constitutes an original work in its own right.

Legal Definition of Derivative Work: Intellectual property (copyright): a work that builds on, or reassembles, with some degree of originality, existing works.
Copyright Awareness Week - VISUAL ART CASES - DERIVATIVES: VISUAL ART CASES - DERIVATIVES
Intro by Monica Corton
Slide Notes by Nancy Wolff, Esq.

A person who creates a copyrightable work has not only the right to protect the original work, but also the right to protect and control any works that are variations on the original work. These variations are called "derivative works" and they include making modifications, adaptations or other new uses of a work, or translating the work to another media.
Derivative work - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: A derivative work pertaining to copyright law, is an expressive creation that includes major, copyright-protected elements of an original, previously created first work.

(Note that the article does not draw distinction between different legal frameworks)
Making a Mark: Art competitions and copyright - the AWS Gold Medal debate: This is a lengthy post highlighting issues relating to the use of reference photographs for artwork and is of relevance to:
* art societies which have to deal with disputes about copyright
* artists selling work or entering competitions with artwork based on a reference photo taken by somebody else, and
* artists who work in a hyperrealistic/photorealistic way.

It references the recent controversy regarding the AWS Gold Medal 2008 and reviews issues within a wider context
Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - check out this thief: A thread on the Shutterstock Forum dealing with photographers alleging infringment of their copyrights
Copyright infringement at AWS? - WetCanvas!: Palette Talk
Copyright infringement at AWS?
Narrow Exceptions to an Old Rule: The Role of Fair Use in Copyright Law : Art + Law + Blog: By John Paul Benitez & Coco Soodek, Attorneys at Law
everal months ago, the American Watercolor Society awarded its 2008 Gold Medal to Sheryl Luxenburg for the work Impermanence (pictured above), a hyper-realistic painting of an old man juxtaposed with a rotting piece of fence. Luxenburg's prize-winning work consisted of emulations of two stock photographs. A series of spontaneous, vigorous debates erupted on the Web about Luxenburg's conduct and entitlement to the prize. Many people assumed that Impermanence infringed on the copyrights of the stock photographers and, therefore, should be disqualified.

These assumptions about infringement and about ways to avoid it underscore a persistent and confusing question for the pop or mixed-media artist: When do you cross the line into copyright infringement?
Intellectual Property and the Arts | College Art Association | Intellectual Property and the Arts - Appropriation: Q: I am an artist who uses images of other works of art in my own creations. What legal risks might I face when using (& "appropriating") artworks made by others in my own?

Fair Use

(Definition from Wikipedia)
Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as use for scholarship or review. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test. It is based on free speech rights provided by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The term "fair use" is unique to the United States; a similar principle, fair dealing, exists in some other common law jurisdictions. Civil law jurisdictions have other limitations and exceptions to copyright.

United States trademark law also incorporates a "fair use" defense, which also stems from the First Amendment of the U.S. constitution.

In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include:

1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors

U.S. Copyright Office - Fair Use: Factsheet on fair use of copyrighted works.
Fair use - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Fair use From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SEOmoz | What's Fair About Fair Use? Defending a Copyright Infringement Claim: Here's the quick and dirty outline of what we're going to cover in this post:
- What is "fair use"?
- Does the fair use defense only work in the United States?
- How does fair use related to trademark, copyright, and patent law?
- What's the big deal about fair use? Why do we care?
- There are four factors to consider when determining whether you are illegally infringing someone's copyright or merely employing fair use of the material:
Narrow Exceptions to an Old Rule: The Role of Fair Use in Copyright Law : Art + Law + Blog: By John Paul Benitez & Coco Soodek, Attorneys at Law Several months ago, the American Watercolor Society awarded its 2008 Gold Medal to Sheryl Luxenburg for the work Impermanence (pictured above), a hyper-realistic painting of an old man juxtaposed...
Fan Art and Fair Use: One Truth and Five Myths :: Etsy Blog: there are at least two sides to every legal dispute. Sometimes a seemingly clear cut case can get turned on its head by a legitimate excuse, which makes the behavior perfectly legal. In the case of an allegation of copyright infringement, one excuse is the "Fair Use" Doctrine.
Seth's Blog: Simple thoughts about fair use: Copyright is not an absolute. Potato chips are absolute. If this is my potato chip, then it's not yours. You can't touch it, eat it or use it for any reason whatsoever, not without asking first. Copyright doesn't work that...
Kind of Screwed - Waxy.org: A cautionary tale about "fair use" (cited in Seth Godin's blog post above)

Copyright and painting from photographs

BOOKS: Copyright Law and Fair Use

BOOKS: About Copyright

books on Amazon

These are reference books for those seeking to protect their copyright and intellectual property via the law and regulations relating to copyright, trademarks and intellectual property

Important!

STOPPING CONTENT THEFT AND PLAGIARISM

How to prevent it. how to deal with it.

How to find your picture on the Internet

How to do a reverse image search

Sites logging Cease and Desist notices & Copyright Infringement

Chilling Effects Clearinghouse: Do you know your online rights? How often are legal threats used to silence Internet activity? Help us to find out and counter baseless threats with the "chilling effects clearinghouse." We are gathering a database of cease and desist notices sent to Internet users, and analyzing those let
You thought we wouldn't notice - but we did!: YTWWN is a blog where users have taken notice to a blatant rip off of a creative work, and shared it with us. Sharing and discussing the observations and casualties of improper use of creative property is what we're all about here.

Ways to locate Copyright Holders

Locating U.K. Copyright Holders: Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Locating U.K. Copyright Holders
Locating U.S. Copyright Holders: Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Locating U.S. Copyright Holders

Copyright free and royalty free

People get confused about "copyright free" and "royalty free" - which are not the same things.

This section aims to find references which help to clarify the issue.

Making a Mark: The difference between "copyright free" and "royalty free": Given that at least part of the controversy surrounding the painting which was awarded the American Watercolour Society Gold Medal this year concerns copyright I thought it might be helpful to outline the difference between "copyright free" and "royalty free" - as this seems to be something people get confused about.
Rights Managed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Rights Managed refers to a type of contract between a two entities (the licensor and licensee), that is employed when licensing the rights to use content, such as photographs. The term Rights Managed means that the seller of the license is specifically giving permission to the buyer to use the content in a certain way. This typically includes restrictions on the length of time, the medium, the size, the format and the location the content can be used (in). The more flexible, or beneficial rights one purchases, the more expensive the license.

The Rights Managed license contrasts with the royalty-free license, wherein the buyer usually receives the right to use the content in perpetuity, with much more flexible restrictions. Royalty Free because they normally do not need to come back to pay more royalties for additional rights for other uses.
Royalty-free - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Royalty Free refers to a type of contract between a two entities (the licensor and licensee), that is employed when licensing the rights to use content, such as photographs. The term Royalty Free means that once the content is licensed under a set of guidelines, the licensee is normally free to use it in perpetuity without paying additional royalty charges.

The Royalty Free license contrasts with the rights-managed license, wherein the buyer usually receives the right to use the content in very specific ways, with restrictions placed on things like period of time used, geographic region, industry, size published, etc. Rights Managed is so called because the licensor is specifically managing the publishing rights for the content.
Stock Photos | Shutterstock: Royalty-Free Subscription Stock Photography & Vector Art: Search and select from millions of high resolution royalty free images, stock photos, vector art, and stock photography.

FAQs relating to royalty free photos on this popular stock photography site
Reproduction fees - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Reproduction fees are charged by image collections for the right to reproduce images in publications. This is not the same as a copyright fee, but is charged separately, as is the cost of the provision of the image. It can be charged where an image is out of copyright, and reflects the possession of the image by a collection.

Copyright and content theft - helpful blog posts

A variety of bloggers and others have provided useful posts about copyright and how to handle copyright theft. Lorelle on WordPress is a good read on this topic.

Dear Rich: Nolo's Intellectual Property Blog: The Dear Rich staff provides easy-to-understand answers to questions about copyright, trademarks and patents (and related law).
What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content - Lorelle on WordPress: Blog Writing Tips
Lorelle writes: Having been the target of copyright thieves, and working with writers, authors, and photographers on copyright protection and laws for over 25 years, I thought I'd talk a little about what to do when someone steals your content.
The Growing Trends in Content Theft: Image Theft, Feed Scraping, and Website Hijacking - Lorelle on WordPress: Lorelle writes: Stealing content directly off your site or blog and posting it on another blog, or even in magazine, is the most common method of content theft. With the increase in technology, other methods of content theft are growing, and are, unfortunately, easy to do. These include image theft, RSS/feed content theft and website hijacking.
Finding Stolen Content and Copyright Infringements %uFFFD Lorelle on WordPress: This posts looks at how to find out if someone has stolen your content. Lorelle writes: There are various ways to find copyright infringements of your photographs and writings - but they need regular checking
Website Hammered by Hotlinking, Spammers, and Free Loaders? - Lorelle on WordPress: Lorelle writes: My main site recently was hammered by Hotlinking, Spammers, and Free Loaders. This can happen to any website, so we all need to learn how to keep an eye on potential abuse of our sites.
PlagiarismToday: I am not a lawyer. I am just a legally-minded Webmaster/Writer frustrated with the plague of plagiarism online and doing something about it.
Protecting Your Content on WordPress.com - Lorelle on WordPress: By Jonathan Bailey of Plagiarism Today

Users of the self-hosted version of WordPress have always had a lot of tools for protecting their site and their feeds. They have always had a variety of plugins for protecting content, including anti-scraping, content theft detection and much more. Users of WordPress.com, however, are much more limited in what they can do. With no plugins and limited ability to edit the site's appearance or core files, they can't use many of the tools that hosted WordPress users take for granted.
Artists Express Concern Over PhotoBucket - PlagiarismToday: PhotoBucket, the Web's largest image sharing service, has been drawing criticism from a growing number of artists over its practices regarding copyrighted material. At issue specifically are two elements of PhotoBucket's services. First, their image printing service, which is powered by Qoop, and second, their takedown system, which often leaves the work available on other parts of the site.
Why Your Copyright Protection is Second Rate - PlagiarismToday: ....the entire copyright system in the United States is tilted to favor big copyright.....
This system ensures that individuals have almost no protection of their works while corporations are free to sue for massive amounts of money. The scariest part of all, the process only requires two simple laws, both of which should have been fixed a long time ago.
Why Wordpress.com is Virtually Spam Free - PlagiarismToday: It seems as if nearly every major free blog hosting service has been either overrun or nearly overrun with spam. However, one services stands alone, a relative oasis of spam cleanliness, Automattic's Wordpress.com.
How to Complain and Report Spam Blogger Blogs: There are hundreds of spam blogs (also called Splogs) in the blogosphere. Most of these are created on the feature rich and free blogging platform Blogger offered by Google.
SEOmoz | Four Ways to Enforce Your Copyright: What to Do When Your Online Content Is Being Stolen: One of the most common problems facing anyone who publishes content online is copyright infringement. It's happened to me. It's happened to you. And it'll probably happen to this post too. (Oh, the irony!)What can you do when your copyright is being infringed? Don't get sad. Get letter-writing mad!T
SEOmoz | International Copyright on the Web: What Rules Apply to Me and What Court Will Apply Them?: Comments on the complicated intersection of U.S. copyright law and international law and infringement cases by a legal mind.
Making a Mark: Art competitions and copyright - the AWS Gold Medal debate: This is a lengthy post highlighting issues relating to the use of reference photographs for artwork and is of relevance to:

* art societies which have to deal with disputes about copyright
* artists selling work or entering competitions with artwork based on a reference photo taken by somebody else, and
* artists who work in a hyperrealistic/photorealistic way.
MAKING A MARK: How to do a reverse image search: There are two easy options for doing a reverse image search:
* Tineye
* Google Reverse Image Search
I guess most will be familiar with the former - but maybe not the latter?
you thought we wouldn't notice » Art Law in the U.S.: Art Law in the U.S.
November 7th, 2007 by AttorneyScott Protect What You Create!
(How to safequard your artwork from thieves, pirates and other unscrupulous industry players)
It's Your Work: Prove It | The Blog Herald: What to do when a website accuses you of infringing copyright because somebody else has uploaded your work to their site. It also discusses non-repudiation services
What to Do When Your Artwork is Used Without Your Permission: A Guest Post by Linda Joy Kattwinkel, Esq., Intellectual Property and Arts Attorney at Owen, Wickersham & Erickson
UK Edition: Big Brand Copycats :: Etsy Blog: what happens when you suspect a Big Brand has actually ripped off your original designs? Is there anything you can do about it or is it unrealistic to expect a large corporation to take any notice whatsoever? I set out to explore these questions with the help of those who have experienced it first-hand.
Plagiarism Today - Stock Letters: When dealing with content theft and plagiarism matters, knowing what to say can be as important as knowing who to say it to. So, in order to help people who are

Copyright and Blogger

Blogger Buzz provides updates for how Blogger handles copyright notices

Blogger Buzz: New tools for handling copyright on Blogger: two significant improvements to Blogger's copyright handling toolkit:
1.) Streamlined submission tools for rightsholders.
2.) Streamlined counter-notice tools for users.
Blogger Buzz: Let the Music Play: August 26, 2009 Let the Music Play
Earlier this year, a number of our users complained about their experience on the receiving end of a DMCA complaint. Much commentary at the time focused on claims that we were removing blog posts at the behest of music labels, that we were not notifying users, and that we weren't providing users with any recourse if they were linking to the music with permission.

Useful tools - for finding and/or dealing with scrapers, thieves and plagiarists

check the tools available to guard against plagiarism

A number of tools are available to find people who have copied and/or plagiarised your work - as opposed to linked to it.

Copyscape - Website Plagiarism Search - Web Site Content Copyright Protection: Search for copies of your page on the Web. Defend your site with a plagiarism warning banner!
TinEye Reverse Image Search: TinEye is a reverse image search engine built by Idee currently in beta. Give it an image and it will tell you where the image appears on the web.
Google Image Search: If you tag your images with a unique identifier then you can find sloppy copiers of your artwork. Also search common terms for your sort of artwork to find those who are try a bit harder.
Google Alerts: Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. You can use Google Alerts to monitor uses of the name of your blog and/or website and/or any other unique or popular identifiers
Find Articles at BNET.com | News Articles, Magazine Back Issues & Reference Articles on All Topics: Contains articles from the back issues of over 900 magazines, journals, trade publications and newspapers. Search our online article archive or browse by category list or publication name.
Arts & Entertainment : Find Articles in Art in America, Art Forum, Art Journal & More | Find Articles at BNET.com: Arts & Entertainment : Find Articles in Arts & Entertainment publications such as Interview, Literary Review, Musical Times, Talk & More | Find Articles at BNET.com
Stop Comment Spam and Trackback Spam - Akismet: (For wordpress.com users)
We can't stand spam.Who can? You have better things to do with your life than deal with the underbelly of the internet. Automattic Kismet (Akismet for short) is a collaborative effort to make comment and trackback spam a non-issue and restore innocence to blogging, so you never have to worry about spam again.
AntiLeech - Red Alt: AntiLeech helps prevent content theft by sploggers. AntiLeech does not prevent the splogger bots from accessing your site. It produces a fake set of content especially for them that includes links back to your site (and mine, too, ok?) and sends it only to them. When they steal this content, it appears online just like normal, except now you've turned the tables on them and have provided them with useless content.
WordPress Plugin: Digital Fingerprint — detecting content theft -- MaxPower: Digital Fingerprint, a plugin for WordPress. To combat splogs use of your content, this plugin will place a digital fingerprint, customized and tailored by each individual user of this plugin, into blog posts. The fingerprint is only visible in the RSS feed, not on the website itself. Once embedded in your post, the plugin allows you to quickly and easily search the blogosphere for references to the digital fingerprint
SEOmoz | Generic Cease & Desist to Copyright Violator: A Generic, Customizable Cease & Desist letter to the owner/manager of a site that is stealing your copyrighted content.
you thought we wouldn't notice: A site deticated to shaming those who think it's ok to take others art and use it without permission

Copyright Tools

tools for protection and to prevent copyright theft

This is a tool which provides an indication of copyright status in the context of the American law on copyright.

Digital Copyright Silder: Instructions top left
The answer comes bottom left when you move the slider on the right
Click on the copyright line to find out who are the authors, what is the copyright status of this tool and what it's licensing status is.
DIRC Digital Image Rights Computator: The Digital Image Rights Computator (DIRC) program is intended to assist the user in assessing the intellectual property status of a specific image documenting a work of art, a designed object, or a portion of the built environment.
FAR: Protect and Preserve - What is FAR? - FAR® Tag Technology and Permanent Online Registry for Art and Collectibles: Fine Art Registry - FAR: Protect and Preserve - What is FAR?
FAR is...
* a web site where artists can permanently register their art when they create it and where collectors, museums and galleries can register their collections.
* a high tech, one-of-a-kind, patented tagging system for works of art which helps establish authenticity and prevent art fraud and theft.
FAR® Tag Technology and Permanent Online Registry for Art and Collectibles
Solutions | Digimarc: Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ: DMRC), based in Beaverton, Oregon, enables businesses and governments worldwide to enrich everyday living by giving digital identities to media and objects that computers can 'see, hear, understand and react to.' Digimarc is a leading innovator and technology provider.

"Digimarc is a leading innovator and technology provider offering solutions for protecting, managing and commercializing all forms of digital media...Through deep relationships with our licensees and business partners, we enable a wide range of solutions for media identification and management, counterfeit and piracy deterrence, and digital commerce using distribution models that provide consumers with more choice and access to media content."
About Digital Watermarking | Digimarc: Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ: DMRC)

A Digimarc digital watermark is a special message embedded in an image, whether it is a photo, video or other digital content. Digimarc's software embeds these "imperceptible" messages by making subtle changes to the data of the original digital content. These watermarks can then be "read" to validate original content and/or deliver an action, such as delivering content to a mobile phone.
Digimarc for Images - Professional Edition :: Digital Watermarking & Copyright Protection for Photos/Pictures/Images: "Digimarc's Professional Edition provides digital watermarking & online copyright protection for your images, pictures & photos.

We provide maximum digital security through visual watermarks, covert digital watermarks, online archiving & storage, and online tracking for any image, photo or picture in your digital portfolio."
Copyscape: Search for copies of your page on the web.
Defend your site with a plagiarism warning banner!
Premium - Check if content is unique and original.
Copysentry - Monitor the web regularly for plagiarism.

Artist groups enforcing copyright online

Yahoo group - The Equine Arts Protection League: Members of this League will find strength in numbers within a community that bands together to enforce their copyrights in online venues such as eBay. The Equine Arts Protection League is free to join. Membership to the League is by invitation only, and new members are referred by a current member for acceptance.

Our League has been responsible for ending thousands of auctions on ebay and ending the selling rights for many ebay sellers of our members counterfeit artworks. We also have shut down countless websites dealing in forgeries and unlicensed artworks.

Our members have the combined expertise to guide an artisan through the process of stopping infringements, and many members have successfully won significant monetary judgments against sellers infringing upon their copyrights. VERO is taken seriously by eBay and sellers can lose the right to sell on ebay for life when a VERO action is taken against them.
The Equine Art Protection League saddles up | Minnesota Public Radio News: Equine art -- paintings, drawings, photos, or images of horses -- has long been a popular niche in the art market. Some equine artists claim demand is high because of the emotional attachment many people have to horses. With that demand comes the opportunity for forgeries, especially on the Internet.

Creative Commons

Creative Commons: Creative Commons licenses provide a flexible range of protections and freedoms for authors, artists, and educators.
Choose a License: Creative Commons helps you publish your work online while letting others know exactly what they can and can't do with your work. When you choose a licence, we provide you with tools and tutorials that let you add licence information to our own site, or to one of several free hosting services that have incorporated Creative Commons.
International - Creative Commons: Creative Commons International (CCi) works to "port" the core Creative Commons Licenses to different copyright legislations around the world. The porting process involves both linguistically translating the licenses and legally adapting them to particular jurisdictions.
Projects - Creative Commons: Creative Commons licenses provide a flexible range of protections and freedoms for authors, artists, and educators.
Creative Commons has launched a series of projects designed to support and expand the public domain.
ccLearn: ccLearn is a division of Creative Commons which is dedicated to realizing the full potential of the Internet to support open learning and open educational resources (OER).
My Disappointment With Creative Commons - PlagiarismToday: .....after half a decade of licensing virtually every word I pen under a Creative Commons License, I've started to look back with a sense of disappointment.

Commercial Copyright Registration and Licensing

online registries and licensing companies

iCopyright Launches Creator Services - PlagiarismToday: Content licensing company iCopyright has opened up a beta of their new, free service targeted at bloggers and other content creators on the Web. Entitled iCopyright for Creators, the service holds a great deal of promise for those seeking an easy way to encourage reuse of their content while protecting their rights.
Free Links, Only $50 Apiece: Some online news sites have begun charging others to link to their articles. But legal experts say no U.S. law or court decision allows a website to successfully demand payment. Declan McCullagh reports from Washington.
iCopyright Launches New Instant Licensing Services: Copyright (www.icopyright.com) has launched two new instant licensing services designed to help online publishers promote lawful reuses of their copyrighted content while protecting their rights: Instant PDF E-Prints and Instant Web Posting services.
iCopyright has gotten a reprieve, thanks to one man's tenacity: By JOHN COOK
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Creating a Custom License - PlagiarismToday: ......one of the more interesting features has been largely ignored, including in my original article: The ability to create custom licenses including the ability to edit the description and the full terms.

This is a great opportunity for those who like Creative Commons-style licensing but have not found the exact terms to suit them to easily make their content available for limited reuse.
Fine Art Registry: Fine Art Registry The Worlds first Online Permanent Registry and Marketplace for Fine Art and Collectibles!
FAR: Protect and Preserve - What is FAR?: Fine Art Registry - FAR: Protect and Preserve - What is FAR?

How best to protect your images

Disable Copying Of Images In Your Blog? - Business Blogging - How to Build A Better Blog: In this guest post by Pati Springmeyer, you'll learn how to protect your images from being copied by "filchers". NOTE: this tutorial is specific for the Blogger platform but similar steps can be done on Wordpress.

PROBLEM is that it also disables ALL other right-clicking which can be very frustrating if you are also providing links for people to find other info.
Are you protecting your images? - Art Biz Blog: Creative people are always trying to save a buck. That's not a bad thing unless you've opteed to save the $45 fee to register a copyright.

Non-Repudiation Services

Non-repudiation basically means that a party involved can not repudiate, or refute a claim. In this case, it involves bringing in a third party, other than the USCO, to validate a claim.
Blog Herald - It's Your work - Prove it!

MyFreeCopyright.com: FREE Copyright Protection: MyFreeCopyright.com is a secure, public third party service that provides a FREE historical Copyright registration that Protects your original creations.
Safe Creative: Intellectual Property Registry: Intellectual Property Registry, free to use, open and globally accessible. Safe Creative allows creators to register and leave proof of their work by means of a certificate proving authorship.
Numly Copyright + Web 2.0 = Copyright 2.0: Numly provides ESN number assignments for electronic media including: websites, blogs, e-books, music, images, source code, and other digital assets.

HOW TO: Stop Plagiarism

Links to Plagiarism Today's Guide on how to stop plagiarism by Jonathan Bailey

Jonathan Bailey is a legally-minded Webmaster/Writer frustrated with the plague of plagiarism online - and doing something about it!

Stop Internet Plagiarism ↓ - PlagiarismToday: When it comes to plagiarism, most Webmasters don't believe that there's a problem. They, like I once did, view plagiarism as purely an academic crime and don't realize that people do steal works for non-academic purposes on the Web. Those few who do realize that there's a problem seldom think that it will affect them. Those who understand that often think that there's nothing that they can do about it and the few who understand that they do have recourse might not be sure exactly what it is.

That's what these papers are for.
1. How to Find Plagiarism - PlagiarismToday: What plagiarists don't realize is that the same tools that make it easy for them to find works to steal also make it easy for you, the copyright holder, to retrace their steps and catch them.
2. Contacting a Plagiarist - PlagiarismToday: The only thing more frustrating that searching for a plagiarist is finding one. For most, the act of locating and tracking down plagiarism is a relatively easy matter, but convincing those engaging in it to stop is a completely different game. Because, while knowing someone is stealing your work is definitely better than being in the dark, it doesn't do much good unless you can get the work taken down.
3. Finding the Host - PlagiarismToday: When push has come to shove, it's time to move on..... If the situation isn't going to be resolved amicably, there's no point in arguing with them.
Instead, it's time to take things to the next level and inform their host about what's going on.
4. Contacting the Host - PlagiarismToday: Once you know who the host is, you can begin the process of alerting them to the infringement and getting the works removed. However, since every host is different, the steps for doing this can be confusing and somewhat tedious. But, if you're willing to investigate and put in a little bit of work on the problem, you can almost always resolve plagiarism and copyright issues with a minimum amount of mess. After all, hosts are almost always willing to help, but only if you play by their rules.
5. When All Else Fails - PlagiarismToday: There are times, especially with International cases, that doing all of the right things simply isn't enough. The plagiarist doesn't respond, the host isn't cooperative and there's no legal leverage to make them. These are far and away the most frustrating cases to deal with and, often times, go completely unresolved. However, there are things that you can do, the situation isn't hopeless and, often times at least, you can still resolve the issue to the satisfaction of everyone. It just often involves more creative thinking.
6. The Long Haul - PlagiarismToday: Copyright holders need to be are willing to accept that the realities of the war against plagiarism is that it's a long haul - and change their tactics accordingly.
Your Copyrights Online - PlagiarismToday: before the discussion about online plagiarism can continue, we must first discuss copyright law itself and what our rights on the Internet are. Because, without knowing where the line is drawn, we don't know when we can start the fight.
1. What is a Copyright? - PlagiarismToday: Fundamentally, copyright is a law that gives you ownership over the things you create. Be it a painting, a photograph, a poem or a novel, if you created it, you own it and it's the copyright law itself that assures that ownership. The ownership that copyright law grants comes with several rights that you, as the owner, have exclusively. Those rights include:
* The right to reproduce the work
* to prepare derivative works
* to distribute copies
* to perform the work
* and to display the work publicly

These are your rights and your rights alone.
2. Limitations of Copyright - PlagiarismToday: Though copyright law provides a creator with several critical and powerful rights over their work, those rights are not unlimited. The law has always recognized the need to balance the rights of the copyright holder with the good of the public and provisions in the law have aimed to do exactly that. Here are some of the critical ways in which your copyright is limited.
Stock Letters - PlagiarismToday: When dealing with content theft and plagiarism matters, knowing what to say can be as important as knowing who to say it to. So, in order to help people who are preparing to send their own cease and desist letters or DMCA notices, I've prepared a small collection of stock letters.

Though these are the actual stock letters that I use and they have been very successful for me, as with everything else on this site, do not take these letters to be legal advice. Use them at your own risk.

Other related sites

Important!

NEWS ABOUT COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

UK and European News about Copyright

Copyright isn't working, says European Commission | ZDNet UK: People have come to see copyright as a tool of punishment, Europe's technology chief has said in her strongest-yet attack on the current copyright system.Digital agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes said on Saturday that the creative...

News from the Office of the Information Commissioner

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Recent press releases from the ICO

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USA - News about Copyright

US bill brings back blocking of foreign websites | Intellectual Property | ZDNet UK: A bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives which is intended to make allegedly copyright-infringing websites, sometimes called 'rogue' websites, virtually disappear from the internet.

The bill, called the Stop Online Piracy Act (PDF), with the web-blocking portions known as the 'e-Parasite Act', represents a long-anticipated escalation by major copyright holders to curb online piracy and counterfeit goods via the law.

News from the United States Copyright Office

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Making A Mark - is the #3 art blog in the UK

Artist and author Katherine Tyrrell draws and writes about art for artists and art lovers.

Topics include: artists, art competitions, art exhibitions, art blogs; art history; art techniques and tips; art business and marketing; art economy and making a mark with pastels, coloured pencils and pen and ink.

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kimdpierson Oct 13, 2011 @ 1:05 am | delete

Wow.....Very Useful Information...i will visit again this lencs....

Reply

netlawman0 May 25, 2011 @ 5:12 am | delete

very nice and very inspiring lens thanks you for nice post.

thanks
http://www.netlawman.co.nz

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---Chazz May 12, 2011 @ 5:56 am | delete

Extremely important lens. Thank you. Lensrolled to http://www.squidoo.com/thank-your-readers-in-style-freebies.

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aj2008 May 11, 2011 @ 8:49 am | delete

This is such a useful resource for artists trying to protect their work!

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_Joan_ Nov 30, 2010 @ 10:38 am | delete

Hi! I'm featuring this lens on my new Plagiarism Sucks lens.

Reply

makingamark Nov 30, 2010 @ 10:47 am | delete

That sounds great - ust come and take a look!

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asiliveandbreathe Oct 8, 2010 @ 4:57 am | delete

Such a wealth of useful information!

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makingamark May 12, 2010 @ 9:48 am | delete

You can also highlight the lens more clearly by using the FEATURED LENS module. That then shows it up with the lens title, mini description and the image

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d-artist May 12, 2010 @ 9:42 am | delete

great lens and info links...5*...thanks for sharing... will lensroll it to my "copyright" lens

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PizmoBeach Mar 5, 2010 @ 12:08 am | delete

A fantastic lens.

Reply

Kylyssa Jan 16, 2010 @ 11:29 am | delete

Great resources! I wish I'd seen the plagiarism resources (Contacting a Plagiarist, etc.) years ago.

Reply

Flynn_the_Cat Oct 23, 2009 @ 2:19 am | delete

Hi, featured this on my Tineye lens!
(It's not featured yet, at .com/tineye - I'll come back and lensroll this when it comes out of WIP)

Reply

clearanceandcopyright Feb 8, 2009 @ 12:29 am | delete

You've put together a great collection of information and resources here. This is a wonderful lens! When you have a chance, I'd love for you to visit my Film Copyrighting lens. Be sure to say hello when you stop by!

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tandemonimom Jan 1, 2009 @ 9:21 am | delete

Wow, how thorough! Thank you for this amazing resource! 5*

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RolandTumble Nov 11, 2008 @ 3:02 pm | delete

Five stars, favorited & lensrolled

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Copyright - Resources for Artists

Copyright, intellectual property and orphan artwork - an introduction for artists

Bookmark This Resource

You can find out about....................

just click on a link to go straight to that topic

What this site covers

BOOK: Patent, Copyright & Trademark

An Intellectual Property Desk Reference

Patent, Copyright & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference

COPYRIGHT LAW IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works & WIPO

WIPO - The World Intellectual Property Organisation

IP = Intellectual Property

Copyright in the European Union

Copyright in the UK

includes UK Government websites about copyright

Copyright and Intellectual Property in the USA

includes American Government websites about copyright

Copyright Law in the USA

Copyright and intellectual property in Australia

includes Australian Government websites about copyright

The History of Copyright Law

BOOKS: The History of Copyright Law

THE DIGITAL ECONOMY - BILLS AND ACTS

Digital Economy Act 2010

enacted June 2010

Digital Economy Bill and Orphan Works

explaining the opposition to Clause 43

Digital Economy Bill: Useful articles

BOOKS: Copyright and the Internet - Practice

INTELLECTUAL COPYRIGHT LAW - ALTERNATIVE SITES

Intellectual Property - Copyright Law

Code v2.0 by Lawrence Lessig

a landmark publication in relation copyright and the law of cyberspace

Non-Government Copyright sites (civil liberties)

BOOKS: Copyright and the Internet - The Philosophy and the Questions

COPYRIGHT AND THE VISUAL ARTIST

BOOKS: Copyright and the Visual Arts

books on Amazon

Orphan Works proposals - and what they mean for artwork, artists and bloggers

Includes links to sites which tell you how to lobby against the proposals

Copyright and the law for visual artists - helpful blogs

Copyright for Artists - helpful articles

Copyright - Information and Advice websites

Collective Licensing Authorities (UK)

ART, THE ARTIST AND FAIR USE

Copyright - Derivative Works

Fair Use

Copyright and painting from photographs

see also Derivative Works

BOOKS: Copyright Law and Fair Use

BOOKS: About Copyright

books on Amazon

STOPPING CONTENT THEFT AND PLAGIARISM

How to find your picture on the Internet

How to do a reverse image search

Sites logging Cease and Desist notices & Copyright Infringement

Ways to locate Copyright Holders

Copyright free and royalty free

Copyright and content theft - helpful blog posts

Copyright and Blogger

Useful tools - for finding and/or dealing with scrapers, thieves and plagiarists

check the tools available to guard against plagiarism

Copyright Tools

tools for protection and to prevent copyright theft

Artist groups enforcing copyright online

Creative Commons

Commercial Copyright Registration and Licensing

online registries and licensing companies

How best to protect your images

Non-Repudiation Services

HOW TO: Stop Plagiarism

Links to Plagiarism Today's Guide on how to stop plagiarism by Jonathan Bailey

Other related sites

NEWS ABOUT COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

UK and European News about Copyright

News from the Office of the Information Commissioner

syndicated feed

USA - News about Copyright