Copyrights
Jacey Cauhourn, Maddie Cook, and Shaylynn Allen
Copyrights are around you all the time!
What kind of things are copyrighted?
Poetry
Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Edgar Allan Poe
Computer Software
Windows
Movies
Batman, Bridesmaids, Chicken Little
Books
Twilight, Tom Sawyer, Life of Pi
Music
Kenny Chesney, Eminem, Beyonce
Architecture
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Wright was born June 8, 1867 and died April 9, 1959. He was known for his very modern style of arcitecture. His house and floor plans are copyrighted, therefore, though many people would like to duplicate this type of house, no one is able to.
What is a copyright?
What does the copyright protect?
How did the copyright come about?
Early History: Handwritten books were produced prior to the 15th century. Neither the books of the authors were in any way legally protected.
Mid 15th Century: Johann Gutenburg invented the printing press and revolutionized the world by making the printed word accessible to the public.
1662: The number of printing presses grew in England and the English government sought to control the publication of books. The Licensing Act of 1662 introduced a register of liscensed books and required a deposit and a copy of a book before it was registered. This act lapsed in 1695 which lead to a lax in government control of books.
1710: The British Parliment passed the first law recognizing the rights of authors called the Statute of Anne. This act established the principles of authors' ownership of a copyright.
1787: James Madison inserted a provision, "to secure to literary authors their copyrights for a limited time," to the U.S. Constitution.
How does one obtain a copyright?
Step One: CREATE! Express your creativity by writing a book, painting a picture, or composing a song.
Step Two: REGISTER! Complete an application either online or at the U.S. Copyright Office. Make sure to include the correct fee. Fees can be found on the U.S. Copyright Office. Also, do not forget to include non-returnable copies of your work.
Step Three: SEND! Send the package to:
Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Ave, SE.
Washington, D.C.
The Copyright Office recieves your package and your registration becomes effective that day. The Copyright Office recieves about 2,400 registrations per day. The financial department processes your payment and the office examines your application and makes sure it meets the requirements of Copyright law and regulations.
Your registration is assigned a number and a certificate of registration is issued. You will recieve the certificate approximately four months after your application is sumbitted.