Copyright Exercise: Home

What is Copyright?

The U.S. Constitution-protected exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.

We will be working from the document Copyright Law of the United States.

Read sections 102 of Title 17 (page 24 of PDF) to (understand what copyright does and does not apply to):

Discussion questions:

• Who is an author? Are you an author?     
• What does it mean to create something?
• Name some of the things you have created.
• When does copyright apply?
• What does it apply to?
• What does it not apply to?

Read section 106 (pages 31-32 of PDF) to understand the exclusive rights of copyright holders:

Discussion Questions:

• What rights does copyright give you?

Discussion Questions:

• How can I decide whether something is fair use or not?
• Should you always have to ask for permission from the owner to use their work?
• How is plagiarism similar or different from fair use?