Copyright Law Myths and Facts: Test your Copyright Knowledge
Test your copyright knowledge: Copyright Quiz 3.0
(PDF Version of Quiz subject to a Creative Commons License)
When it comes to copyright law, there is much misinformation. Test yourself to determine what you think is a copyright truth or myth (false).
Truth or Myth (False)?
T F 1. Only registered works are protected by copyright.
T F 2. Online content is in the public domain unless it has a copyright notice.
T F 3. In at least 164 countries that belong to the Berne [Copyright] Convention, copyright protection is automatic upon creation of the work.
T F 4. In all countries, the duration of copyright is seventy years after the death of the author.
T F 5. Fair use is intentionally ambiguous.
T F 6. You can copy 3 percent of a work without obtaining copyright permission.
T F 7. If a work does not have a copyright notice, ©, then you may freely use the work without obtaining permission.
T F 8. All U.S. government works are in the public domain.
T F 9. Fair use never applies in a for profit situation.
T F 10. There is no such thing as an international copyright law.
Answers are below.
If you would like to discuss any of the answers, please post a comment below.
Lesley
Copyrightlaws.com 2011
Answers: 1F, 2F, 3T, 4F, 5T, 6F, 7F, 8F, 9F, 10T
Try other quizzes:
Copyright Quiz 1.0 on general copyright principles.
Copyright Quiz 2.0 on international copyright principles.
To view educational opportunities on copyright, click here.
6. You can copy 3 percent of a work without obtaining copyright permission.
I took a few seminars from you Lesley and you did say this many times. Is there any amount that is “takeable” as long as it is not the “essence of the work”. I am trying to determine how educational publishers can declare a word count under which they do not seek permission to use.
Hi Linda, the point of question six is that there is no exact percent of a work that you can copy without permission. As you suggest, that amount varies from situation to situation. Your publishing company may benefit from copyright education and a copyright policy which educates about copyright and fair use/dealing and discusses both the ambiguities in fair use/dealing as well as the benefits and flexibility. Your attorney may also provide a “safety net” relating to a word count that may work for you based on a copyright risk analysis.
I USED PICTURES FROM A WEBSITE 3 YEARS A GO. THE SITE DID NOT HAVE A COPYRIGHT SYMBOL ON ANY OF THE PAGES. fINNALY, IT COPYRIGHT IN 2011. ARE WE IN VIOLATION OF COPYRIGHT LAWS.
Hi Rod, whether or not a work has a copyright symbol, it is still protected by copyright. See article on copyright symbol at http://www.copyrightlaws.com/resources.