Copyrightlaws.com: Copyright courses and education in plain English

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Copyright in U.S. Government Works

Are all U.S. government works in the public domain? It's a misconception that all U.S. government works (maps, brochures, reports, etc.) are in the public domain. In order to understand which U.S. government works are protected by copyright and which are not, you need to know three things. The general rule is that works created...

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Licensing Policy Sample: Should Your Library Have a Written Licensing Policy?

A licensing policy is a helpful document for a library or organization that licenses electronic resources or e-resources. This article is written by Lesley Ellen Harris, author of Licensing Digital Content, 3rd edition. Copyright and Intellectual Property Policies are more common than licensing policies for e-resources. However, a written licensing policy is useful for any organization...

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A Simple Guide to Fair Use: How To Apply Fair Use to Your Copyright Scenarios

Understanding fair use in U.S. copyright law is essential for anyone using copyright-protected materials. Fair use is ambiguous and it can be overwhelming to apply it to your own situations. Inform yourself about the facts of fair use and how it works. Be an educated decision maker when determining whether fair use applies to your...

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Copyright Permissions Sample Letter

You may know it's important to seek permission before using copyright-protected content. But do you know how to obtain that permission? This article leads you through how to contact a copyright owner to obtain permission and what to ask for. We also provide a sample copyright permissions letter below as a practical tool to guide...

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Legally Using Images in Libraries: Copyright Rules

In this article, we address two perspectives on legally using images (from a copyright perspective) in libraries: Use of images by library staff and patrons Understanding how copyright pertains to images, educating staff and patrons about this, and creating a copyright culture in your library Are You Legally Using Images in Your Library? You should...

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About Lesley Ellen Harris

Lesley Ellen Harris, JD, is the founder and CEO of Copyrightlaws.com. Lesley is a copyright consultant, published author, copyright blogger and educator. Her areas of expertise include U.S. and Canadian copyright law, international copyright law, and licensing digital content. I feel honored to take a course with Ms. Harris whose name seemingly turns up wherever I...

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How To Protect Photos You Post Online

How to protect photos you post online may be both simpler and more difficult than you realize. Are you one of those people snapping photos all the time with your phone, or perhaps a camera or tablet? Although you may think your images are amateur and simply family or travel images, you still have rights...

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Legally Using Images in Presentation Slides

Do you use images in presentations? Whether an in-person or virtual presentation or class, this article will help you establish best practices for legally using images in presentation slides and minimizing your risks of copyright infringement. Images include photographs, charts, maps, illustrations, charts and more. You may also like our online copyright course that includes...

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