A Trip to The Public Domain

Most creative works are protected by copyright for a very long time, but not all and not forever.  Those works not protected are said to be in the public domain.  Once in the public domain, others can use the works without needing to obtain permission from (or pay royalties or license fees to) the owner … Read more

I Saw the Signs

Intellectual property rights all come with their very own symbols.  They are signs to others about what type of rights are being claimed.  I am sure you have seen them, but not everyone is sure which symbol belongs to which right.  So let’s go back to grade school, do a matching game.  Didn’t know there … Read more

Don’t Cut, Paste then Pay

Photo: © 2008 flikr, flikr2639, licensed by Creative Commons You are looking for a nice photograph to take your website from “meh” to “yeah!”  After tooling around, you find the perfect one on someone else’s website.  It has everything you could hope for in a photo.  It is pretty, professional, and just the right amount … Read more

Forms Draw a Blank on Copyright Protection

Copyright protects the original expression of an idea, but not the idea itself as copyright protection extends only to “original works of authorship.” That is why we can have lots of books, films, TV movies, songs, and more regarding the life of Marilyn Monroe of varying quality.  The threshold of what is an original expression … Read more