http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for copyright music Copyright 2008 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:59:50 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/copyright+music http://www.artwoo.com/article/when-does-copyright-expire-on-my-music http://www.artwoo.com/article/when-does-copyright-expire-on-my-music#comments Sat, 02 Jun 2007 14:24:59 +0000 copyright musiccopyrighted musicmusic worksthis means thatfreelance journalistlifetimeworry http://www.artwoo.com/article/when-does-copyright-expire-on-my-music copyrighted music isn't something you have to worry about, at least not in your lifetime. The music that you've written is copyrighted the moment you've put it onto paper or recorded it. The reason you don't have to worry about expiration is because the music is protected until 70 years after the death of the author. In the case of your music, that author would be you.

This rule about copyright music expiration was first put into place so that the families and heirs of an author could still earn royalties even after his or her death. Ultimately this means that if you've taken the steps to copyright your music and have registered the copyright, then your music will be protected throughout your lifetime until 70 years after you or the last surviving author (assuming a collaboration) is deceased.

Copyright music expiration is not something you should make a primary concern unless you are having issues of someone respecting and/or honoring your copyright at the moment. You should take comfort in the fact that as long as you are alive you are the only one who can assign your copyright to another person; and as long as you haven't given up your ownership of the music it still belongs to you.

This is different, however, if your copyrighted music was work "made for hire." If that is the case then you cannot have ownership of the music, as it never legally belonged to you, but the person or entity who hired you to produce the music. Works made for hire have different copyright music expiration than those owned by the creator. With works made for hire, the copyrights are in effect for 95 years from the original publication date or for 120 years from the creation of the work, whichever of the two is shorter. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-copyrighted-music-legally http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-copyrighted-music-legally#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:35:00 +0000 public domain musicfree public domain musiccopyright musicwritten musicuse musicrecorded musicfree public domain http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-copyrighted-music-legally copyright music is often mistaken with free public domain music or music in which the copyright has expired. A copyright is in place for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years. If more than one songwriter has authored the music, then the copyright will be in effect for 70 years after the death of the last surviving contributor.

This copyright law was created to ensure that the heirs of the songwriter would also benefit from the royalties after the music's writer or composer was no longer living. It is important to remember that these laws are the current laws; music written at different points in time are most likely subject to different copyright laws. When searching for free copyright music it is always a good idea to search through music that is very old rather than focusing your search on more recent musical selections, as they will most likely still be protected under copyright.

When using free copyright music or public domain music, you must be certain the copy you are using is within the copyright period. Any music published before 1922 is public domain music. This does not, however, include derivatives or new versions of that music which may still be under copyright protection. Finding a copy of the music with the copyright date included, if that date is prior to 1922, is the best route to ensure you are complying with current copyright laws and you not infringing on someone else's copyright.

Written music is protected differently than recorded music. Almost every sound recording copyrighted in the United States is protected until 2067. If you need a sound recording you should either purchase one or make one of your own. You can find many free copyright music by searching on Google; which allows free use of the music and free of any royalty payments.

Copyright laws in the United States are different than they are in other countries. If you wish to use music that is or was under copyright in another country, then you must follow the laws that apply to the particular piece of music. Free copyright music is available in almost every country and many genres; the trick is finding great sources where you can easily find this music.

There is a project called Mutopia, which operates like project Gutenberg. Mutopia provides free copyright music. The Gutenberg project also has a section devoted to free sheet music, in addition to its wonderful resources for books. Each of these projects provides excellent resources to find free copyright music for whatever reason.

Whether you are a musician seeking inspiration from the music of old or hoping to find a composition -- which you can rearrange and make your own -- there are many ways you can achieve your goals that will not violate current copyright laws. The key is learning the copyright laws both where you live and countries in which the music you seek to modify. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-music-copyright-law http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-music-copyright-law#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:25:01 +0000 music copyright lawmusic recordingsmusic copyrightingmusic copyrightsmusic compositionemaildownloading music http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-music-copyright-law music copyright law and do not even know it. Music copyright law can be very tricky. There are multiple music copyrights that you must keep in mind =96 lyrics, composition and the recording of the music by an artist. Using someone's music may involve you acquiring many different licenses such as mechanical, synchronization, performance and publishing licenses.

Music copyright law has separate copyrights for the vocal or instrumental recordings of a composition or performance and the copyright of the written lyrics and music. Standard music copyrighting practices usually entail that the writer of the song retains the rights to the right to the music composition which the studio that did the recording of the music holds the rights of the recording. Music copyright law can get very complicated. It can involve negotiations with the writers, producers, agents, heirs and more.

Many artists and studios are upset with the decline in music sales. They are attributing this decline to people who are violating copyright laws by downloading music on the Internet. Music files are under the same copyright law as music recordings and the owners of these copyrights are entitled to royalties or compensation for the music that people are illegally downloading on the Internet.

The simple fact is you are stealing if you make copies of copyrighted music recordings without authorization. If people were sued for the music they have downloaded illegally, it could result in thousands of dollars. Music copyright law states that it is illegal to duplicate and distribute creative work. If you send someone an email with a song that you have illegally downloaded on the Internet, you could be in for some serious trouble. To put it bluntly and plainly, if you download (or upload) music that is copyrighted without permission, you are breaking the law.

Many people violate music copyright law and do not even understand how their actions are criminal. If you purchase a music CD you can make a copy of it for yourself on your MP3. However, if you then use that recording and put it on your website or blog and make it available for everyone to download, you are performing an illegal act. Even if you join a site and pay a fee to download music, you are in violation of music copyright law.

This may sound like something that would never come back to haunt you. After all, if you were caught, it would be a first time offense, right? Well, you should know that there have been first time offenders who have been fined up to $250,000 and up to five years in jail for violating music copyright law. It is so much easier to go out and pay 20 bucks for a CD.

Whether you are uploading music or downloading music, educate yourself on music copyright law. No one wants to ruin their financial future and face jail time. Enjoy music, just do it the right way! Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-copyright-your-music-to-protect-your-future-royalties http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-copyright-your-music-to-protect-your-future-royalties#comments Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:35:01 +0000 copyright musiccopyrighting musicrecorded musicsheet musicart musicmore commonly knowntwo different things http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-copyright-your-music-to-protect-your-future-royalties copyrighting music with registering music; these are two different things. According to the law in the United States, once you have written or recorded your music in a permanent form, it is automatically copyrighted.

Of course, it might help to first understand what it means to copyright music in the first place. A copyright is a certain legal protection that is offered to those who compose creative works, whether those works are art, music, or the written word. The U. S. Constitution states there are limits one can place on the amount of time the work is exclusively protected.

If you copyright music, this means you (and you alone) have the right to use your work or allow others to use your work. You also have the right to distribute copies of your work. Whether those copies are in the form of written or sheet music or recorded music to the public as well as the right to perform your music for the public.

There is something called Fair Use (more commonly known as the Fair Use Doctrine) that allows anyone to use your written or recorded music for the purpose of research, news reporting, commentary, or criticism. In other words, there are times when the use of copyrighted material is deemed appropriate without the consent of the one holding the copyright.

In some cases, copyrighting music alone is not enough to protect your music, at least not without going through a lot of hoops to do so. One of the things you can do to protect your copyright is provide notice of copyright. This involves writing a simple statement such as using the word "copyright," the date, and your name at the bottom of your sheet music or on the case for the recording or the actual recording itself. CDs are the most common means for recording devices today and a notice of copyright can easily be added to the exterior of your CD or on your label if you have one printed.

Why copyright music? The answer is simple: so others cannot take credit for your hard work and creative genius. For extra protection you may want to register your copyright as well. Registering your copyright will provide you with formal legal documentation of your ownership of your music should anyone attempt to claim rights to your music or dispute the true ownership/authorship of your music.

You must have your copyright registered if you wish to file a copyright infringement suit; it is, in my opinion, better to not only copyright music during the creation process, but also to register your copyright before it could possibly become an issue. Registering a copyright is not a difficult a process. Basically it involves filling out an application, paying a filing fee (check with the U. S. Copyright Office for the current amount), and a copy of the work you want to protect.

Your music doesn't have to be published to obtain a copyright. Music should be copyrighted and registered long before the publication process to protect your rights as the creator of the music. Whether you are dabbling with cute little limericks or writing masterpieces and concertos, you want to make sure to copyright music earlier rather than later for the best possible outcome should any problems arise. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-royalty-free-music-to-keep-your-website-and-videos-legal http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-royalty-free-music-to-keep-your-website-and-videos-legal#comments Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:35:00 +0000 cease and desist letterroyalty free musicopen source softwarecorporate lawyersbuyout musicbest guesscopyright issue http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-use-royalty-free-music-to-keep-your-website-and-videos-legal Royalty free music is one of the safest kinds of music you can use on your website. It's designed to be used on websites, in videos and other productions with almost no restrictions. The only other safe option to use would be a track that you've written and performed yourself.

Almost all modern music is copyright. And this copyright is enforced ferociously by the record companies corporate lawyers. Which means that if you want to use it on your website, you will have to come to an arrangement with the owner of that copyright in order to use it =96 not the easiest thing to do as you have to track them down and then find out who handles this kind of copyright issue. Either that or be prepared for a "cease and desist" letter from their lawyer along with a demand for unpaid royalties. The "unpaid royalties" figure will be their best guess of what you are likely to owe and you can be certain that it won't be an underestimate =96 it will be up to you to prove any lower amount, Not the nicest thing to have happen to you.

It's a common misconception that if something is available on the internet, it's OK to use it on your website. People think this about pictures as well as music. But that's not true - everything published is automatically copyright unless the author specifically says otherwise - this happens nowadays mainly with open source software and even then there's usually some kind of agreement (often called copyleft). Only search engines like Google can get away with crawling your website and taking all your copyright material. And that's only because you want the traffic they can send back to your website in return!

Far and away the safest kind of sounds to use on your website or on your YouTube videos are called "royalty free" or sometimes "stock" or "buyout" music.

The author takes a one-off fee in return for you being able to use their work pretty much anywhere and any way you see fit. Although there's usually a restriction to stop you selling it unaltered - you normally have to modify it in some way. So it's fine to use the track behind your YouTube videos but you wouldn't be allowed to sell a CD with simply the royalty free music on it. Which is fair enough, otherwise the author would never get any money.

Once you've bought a track or CD in this manner, you can add it to your website and still be able to sleep at night. You can also use it to add variety to your YouTube videos, or in an amateur dramatic production, your own movie, CDs and DVDs you produce, and anything else you can think of.

There are all sorts of different tracks available from new age through to R'n'B, Hip Hop, jazz, country and any other musical genre you care to name. So you're bound to be able to get hold of something that fits the mood you want to recreate. Learn more about using royalty free music at http://www.squidoo.com/royalty-free-music Find out what's available and where you cam purchase royalty free music for immediate download at http://www.squidoo.com/royalty-free-music ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-does-music-copyright-infringement-affect-me http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-does-music-copyright-infringement-affect-me#comments Sun, 05 Aug 2007 10:35:01 +0000 music copyright infringementcopyright infringement casesbootleg recordingsaudio recordingsvideo recordingsmyspacewikipedia http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-does-music-copyright-infringement-affect-me Music copyright infringement happens all around us every day, by people downloading music from their favorite social networking site to the guy who's reselling MP3s. Most people who commit music copyright infringement don't realize that it's illegal and they can be prosecuted in the United States.

Copyright infringement, as defined by Wikipedia.org states: "Copyright infringement (or copyright violation) is the unauthorized use of material that is protected by intellectual property rights law particularly the copyright in a manner that violates one of the original copyright owner's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it. The slang term bootleg (derived from the use of the shank of a boot for the purposes of smuggling) is often used to describe illicitly copied material."

We've all heard of "bootleg" recordings -- usually audio recordings taken from concerts and sold on home made cassettes or CDs and distributed (sometimes out of the trunk of a car) to anyone who will buy. Bootleg recordings have changed, as music copyright infringement has branched into video recordings. Music copyright infringement has exploded with the advent of the Internet, and now people from all over the world are sharing every type of imaginable file -- from eBooks to audio to music. Small label artists began feeling the pinch years ago.

Many new and older artists are beginning to see the beauty of the Internet, and are offering their music for sale track-by-track on iTunes and other MP3 sales websites, as well as through their own band websites and MySpace pages. The Internet has helped up-and-coming musicians become visible, while at the same time, drastically increasing the number of music copyright infringement cases.

Music copyright infringement cases have helped to create organizations which protect the Fair Use of an item, such as a song. Organizations such as CreativeCommons.com and the Electronic Frontier Foundation help individuals know their rights under copyright laws.

While there are organizations that help you understand your rights as a purchaser of copyright use, there are organizations that want to limit the ways in which you use the products you buy. It is rumored, for example, that record distribution and production companies want to limit the ways in which you use the music you buy -- they don't want you to put it on your computer or make a Mix Tape or CD from it -- for fear of "sharing."

When music publishers and distribution companies limit uses like this, they're creating a tidal wave of music copyright infringement cases. By limiting the use of purchased material, the companies are alienating their client base and pushing all their sales away from physical products and toward electronic ones -- which are much harder to control.

A way these companies tried to limit the use was by creating a DRM program, which severely limited where a CD could be played (on one computer, for instance). And, in one drastic measure, Sony placed a DRM program on all their CDs a few years ago, and severely crippled several networks when their "program" was actually malware that seriously crippled network security.

As you can see, music copyright infringement is something that is currently being fought between end users and music production and distribution companies. In this new century, we must find a way to retain copyright, and allow the customers to use the products they buy in a meaningful way, or otherwise the market will shift and the industry as we know it will be abandoned. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/where-to-find-free-music-download http://www.artwoo.com/article/where-to-find-free-music-download#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:20:01 +0000 new release albumsfaster internet accessgoogle websitestore mp3copyright musicminimal chargetrack music http://www.artwoo.com/article/where-to-find-free-music-download copyright music should not be downloaded. Copyright refers to the ownership of the music. It is protected by law hence unauthorized reproduction may open the user to legal problems.

To have access to great music without violating the law on copyright user may try using broadband or faster Internet access. This will allow the user to listen to numerous kind of music from Internet Radio. Listening to this kind of method is safe and ensures excellent quality of sounds. There are also some websites that give room for new release albums. They even play selection of the carrier single or selections of songs within the album. This type of access will likewise give good music. Hence it could be a good way of checking the track without downloading. It also gives the hassle free of listening without visiting the record store.

MP3 sites are also recommended as well as Launch websites which can be found in Yahoo. Internet radio is also a great way in having access to great music by visiting the Google website. They also feature some music videos to give pleasure to many users. If the user wants to download a particular music with copyright it is advice that they must look for websites that allows downloading with minimal charge. This process is lawful and can truly provide excellent quality of track music. The charging may either be per track or on a monthly basis. There are also some websites that offer a low monthly fee and share tracks. For users who are unsure of downloading they may first resort to free trial which form part of the features of the website. Doing this will be favorably to the user. Marry Jazz is a successful author of http://www.ipods-and-mp3-players-guide.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-us-copyright-law http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-us-copyright-law#comments Sun, 20 May 2007 07:15:01 +0000 us copyright lawthis means thatartistic expressioncopyright actcriminal sanctionscoverscopyright symbol http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-us-copyright-law US Copyright Law grants rights to individuals for the works they create. The US Copyright Act of 1790 has changed over the years. The current basis of US copyright law is based on the Copyright Act of 1976. US copyright law is relatively automatic. Once someone has an idea and produces it in tangible form, the creator is the copyright holder and has the authority to enforce his exclusivity to it. In other words, the person is the owner of the creation. It is not necessary that a person register their work. However, it is recommended and it can serve as evidence if someone ever violates a copyright. It is interesting to note that when an employer hires an employee to produce a work that the copyright is given to the employer.

Violations of US Copyright Law are generally enforced in a civil court setting. However, there could also be criminal sanctions brought against someone who violates US copyright law. Someone in serious violation of US Copyright Law, such as counterfeiting, can find themselves on the inside of prison looking out. People need to understand the copyright symbol is not a requirement. Someone may have a copyright, yet their work may not have a copyright notice or symbol.

US Copyright Law covers a wide range of things that are derived from artistic expression, intellectual or creative work. This includes things such as literary works, music, drawings, photographs, software, movies, choreographic works such as ballets and plays, poems, paintings and more. The law covers the form of expression, not the concept, facts or the actual idea of the work. This means that someone can use another person's idea or concept and produce their own take on it. However, copying another person's work is a violation. some things may not be copyrighted but they may be protected by a patent or trademark.

Individuals who have a copyright on a particular piece of work can do with it what they will. They may choose to copy it and sell it. They may display their work or perform it in public and charge admission, or they can assign or sell the work to someone else. Individuals who have a copyright can also choose to do nothing with their work, if that is their desire. However, if someone comes along and takes the work and tries to use it in some way, that person is still in violation of the owner's copyright. Copyrights cover published and unpublished work.

Anyone who is in the creative arts arena should be very careful that they do not violate US Copyright Law. For that matter, anyone who is a fan of the creative arts should make sure they are not in violation of a copyright. Simple things like uploading, downloading and sharing music or movie files can result in serious charges and fines being brought against them. The popularity of the Internet and file sharing software has increased copyright violations. Copyright owners are starting to take a stand against copyright violators and are hunting down the perpetrators. Be careful you are not overstepping your boundaries and violating someone's copyright law. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-brief-history-about-downloading-music http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-brief-history-about-downloading-music#comments Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:27:09 +0000 downloading musicmusic copyrightmusic filesnapsterriaaitunescopyright laws http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-brief-history-about-downloading-music Downloading music is a process whereby music files are opened on the Internet and saved for future use. This has become one of the world's greatest online pastimes during recent years, and the popularity of downloading music continues to grow.

Ironically, however, downloading music didn't start off in the most positive light. As a matter of fact, it was considered quite illegal, and many file-sharing technologies, such as peer-to-peer networks, provided countless music to the public free of charge and without the permission of either the artists or the music copyright owners. One famous site known for this, Napster, was incited for breaking copyright laws and told to shut down. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), this practice was not only unlawful; it was hurting sales for the music industry--downloading music from the Internet exceeded sales of CDs and videos in some countries. Many lawsuits ensued, and yet other sites were ordered to shut down.

Several artists cried out at the practice of downloading music. They felt betrayed, since their hard-earned music was being passed along without profit and without their permission. They felt disrespected and ripped off!

Eventually, there was a solution that would keep downloading music an active pastime. Legal digital downloads became popular through iTunes in 2003, and downloading music from the Internet increased exponentially, setting new records in sales. One example of this is Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, which landed a position at the top of the U.K. Singles Chart solely on the distribution of downloading music. Napster is back online, too.

Interestingly enough, many of the artists themselves got in on the online game of downloading music, and now lots of their music is available on their personal and commercial sites. These downloads, however, are either brief previews or low-quality sampling--enough for the artists to market their music to those who prefer downloading music, and also to make money online as well as through music outlets!

Downloading music, then, has been a rather shaky ordeal for many, but due to compromise and innovative technological advances, this practice is fortunate enough to continue for some time to come! Find more downloading music resources and other great topics at http://www.info-checkpoint.info ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-infringement-cases-can-teach-us-to-obey-copyright-laws http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-infringement-cases-can-teach-us-to-obey-copyright-laws#comments Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:25:00 +0000 copyright infringement casecopyright infringement casesprinceton university presssupreme courtcopyright lawfeist publicationstelephone service co http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-infringement-cases-can-teach-us-to-obey-copyright-laws Copyright infringement cases can be both costly and time consuming. Considering copyright infringement is something that isn't as easily defined as theft or speeding, there are numerous copyright infringement cases changing the way copyright law is viewed in the U.S. By reviewing a few of these copyright infringement cases, you can get a better idea of what is, and what is not, acceptable use of copyrighted works.

As a forward, however, you'll need to know something about copyright law. Most copyright lawsuits are brought to the courts because a copyright owner has found their copyright is being used outside the copyright laws. This usually means the copyright holder hadn't been asked for permission to use the work; or if they had, the work is not being used in an agreed-upon context or they have not been paid royalties. The copyright infringement cases, listed below, sample of what goes to the Supreme Court in copyright infringement.

Feist Publications v. Rural Telephone Service Co (6th Cir. 1996)

This copyright infringement case was brought to the Supreme Court in 1996 regarding the copyright of a database. The Supreme Court, in this instance, decided that compilations of data (such as in a database) are only protected by copyright when they are "arranged and selected in an original manner." Although the level of originality needed to make the database copyright-able is not very high, the pages of a directory (such as a phone book) are not protected because the data contained therein is arranged geographically, then alphabetically. Because of this, the data was not original enough to warrant a copyright infringement charge. The competing telephone company was allowed to tap into their competitors' database and use that data in their own work without liability.

Princeton University Press v. Michigan Document Services, Inc (6th Cir 1996)

This case has to do with the Fair Use law, which is defined in the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. =A7 107. In this case, a photocopying service was sued for copyright infringement for making "course packs" for the University of Michigan. In this case, a course pack was a group of reading materials assigned by a professor -- then the course pack was bound together by a professional copy shop.

In the Fair Use system, there is a system available for payment of copyright fees to publishers whose works are used in course materials. The printing shop owner refused to pay the copyright cost. When it went to the Supreme Court, they analyzed the Fair Use code and found that it was NOT Fair Use, and the printing shop had to pay the copyright costs.

As you can see, copyright infringement cases are cases in which someone violates the rights of a copyright owner, as provided by 17 USC =A7106, or of the author as provided in =A7106A. These copyright infringement cases can be taken to either criminal or civil court, and can carry with it a hefty fine.

Copyright infringement cases are brought upon people who violate copyrights every day. In recent times, you'll find many copyright cases in relation to electronic copyrights -- such as those you'd find on a website or PDF file, as well as other digital media such as music and audio files.

It's probable that you've seen copyright cases brought against the common person -- such as a child or family -- for downloading digital music in the form of MP3s. In the current Internet age, it's not surprising to see so many music and video copyright cases brought to us because of peer to peer file sharing made possible by the Internet. You can be certain that until people know the rules of copyright, and downloading copyrighted material from the Internet, we'll see many more copyright cases. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-copyright-issues http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-copyright-issues#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2007 11:20:01 +0000 copyright protectionnapstera9protection onelegal protectioncopyright lawcopyrighted music http://www.artwoo.com/article/small-business-copyright-issues
to copy the work to modify the work to distribute the work to perform the work publicly to display the work publicly

Copyright is important when you obtain content for your site, and in the protection of your content. Copyrightable works are usually on the form of text, image, music, etc. Facts, titles, recipes, form designs, alphabetical lists and other items do not have the required "originality" to merit copyright protection.

One of the misconceptions about copyright protection is that you have to register your work to gain legal protection. If you do protect your original works, you are more likely to win attorneys' fees and, sometimes, higher damages.

The term "Public Domain" does not mean that everything in public or on the Internet is free from copyright protection. It refers to items that either do not qualify for copyright protection, or for which the protection has expired. The default you should assume for other people's works is that they are copyrighted and may not be copied unless you know otherwise.

The correct form for a notice on your web site is: "Copyright [dates] by [author/owner]"

You can use C in a circle =A9 instead of "Copyright" but "(C)" has never been given legal force. The phrase "All Rights Reserved" used to be required in some nations but is now not legally needed most places.

Even if you don't charge anyone for a product that contains copyrighted materials, you are still violating the law. An example of such an unlawful act would be when Napster enabled widescale download of copyrighted music.

One exception would be fair use. Copyright law does not block your freedom to express your own works. For example, you may be reviewing an article from a news paper's web site that requires you to reproduce some of the work on your site is not the same as simply copying the work to your site so you don't have to create your own work. Of course, that does not mean that you can start posting articles from other web sites and pretend you are reviewing them, but you are simply stealing content to cut corners.

One of the key to the fair use doctrine is that you can not diminish the value of the original work. Copying just 300 words from Gerald Ford's 200,000 word memoir for a magazine article was ruled as not fair use, in spite of it being very newsworthy, because it was the most important 300 words - why he pardoned Nixon. George Meszaros with Webene http://www.webene.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/royalty-free-music-its-advantages http://www.artwoo.com/article/royalty-free-music-its-advantages#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:36:31 +0000 production music libraryroyalty free musicpower point presentationsquality royaltyinternet marketersmusic is musicbuyout music http://www.artwoo.com/article/royalty-free-music-its-advantages royalty free music for their promotions. Royalty free music is music that is licensed for a fee, without having to pay additional royalties. Using royalty free music provides many advantages and benefits. The greatest advantage to using royalty free music it can be used without the person having to fork over hefty fees to the copyright holder(s).

Royalty free music can be used in video production, websites, film, television, radio, multimedia and Power Point presentations. Using a high quality production music library that offers royalty free music saves precious time and money and is an excellent alternative to paying for original music or a composer.

The Royaltyfreemusicmp3.com production Music Library offers fast and affordable one-stop licensing, letting you get on with the creative aspects of any media production. Visit our recommended website www.royaltyfreemusicmp3.com.

There are plenty of websites online that offer royalty free music for downloading. These sites allow you to download royalty free music that is of good quality. Royalty free music is also known as "buyout music". Royaltyfreemusicmp3.com offers premium royalty-free music and Music licensing is their main product. Internet marketers have taken advantage of royalty free music and used it to create attention grabbing presentations that help them "make the sale" and keep their clients coming back again and again.

If a person decides to download music to use for their business or other use, they would have to pay a fee, but it would be just that one fee. Sometimes you can download royalty free music to use at a reduced cost. You still come out better than you would if you had to pay for the copyright.

Some websites are set up where there are only limited copies available of their royalty free music. They don't want it saturated, so they have a certain number of downloads available for purchase.

When using this type of music, it can be made for unlimited use by the person that's using it. Another good thing about this is royalty free music is legal. People use it all the time for promotions and other events as they see fit.

There are a variety of music and other clips to choose from. It depends on what your taste is. Some genres include orchestral, jazz, soul, rock, pop and different movie clips. This is just a sampling of what can be found when you search online for downloadable royalty free music.

The music at the Royaltyfreemusicmp3.com is produced to a very high quality and covers every genre of music and mood.

People can get easy access to this kind of music. Going online and doing a search can provide you with hundreds if not thousands of royalty free music downloads that you can choose from. There is something for everyone. Anyone can search for what they want and download it within minutes.

There are different sounds available for everyone's taste. You can find things like nature sounds, guitar sounds, piano sounds and other sounds that may suit your needs. If you're interested in film clips, you can find that online as well.

There is so much to choose from that it would take your many days to go through it all. The best thing to do is to narrow it down to what you really want or need. The online websites usually have royalty free music loops that you can listen to. They are always adding new music and film clips to satisfy the growing demand for this category of music.

Using downloadable royalty free music is a great advertising and promotional tool. People find it more cost-effective to do it this way than to fork out buckets of money for copyright fees.Royalty free music can be used in video production, websites, film, television, radio and multimedia. Using a high quality production music library that offers royalty free music saves precious time and money. Visit Premium Royalty Free Music for more information.]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-you-must-obey-movie-copyright-laws-in-the-digital-age http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-you-must-obey-movie-copyright-laws-in-the-digital-age#comments Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:34:59 +0000 colleges and universitiescopyright infringementcopyright lawscollege studentsinfringement claimsillegal downloadingillegally http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-you-must-obey-movie-copyright-laws-in-the-digital-age copyright laws. Not surprisingly, the biggest violators of the movie copyright laws are students. The movie industry is sending out copyright infringement claims to college universities around the country. One reason that college students may be the hardest hit is that they are not aware of how serious a crime copyright infringement is.

Many college students who have lawsuits brought against them are shocked, to say the least. They question why they were not warned about the perils of downloading movies and songs online and passing them along to friends. However, with the rise of claims, no one can claim ignorance for much longer. Word is being spread near and far that if you engage in illegal downloading and/or sharing, then you can be brought to court. College students are learning the hard way that it is against the law and in violation of copyright laws to share or download copyrighted material. Many colleges and universities now state in their handbooks that it is against the law to illegally download movies, music and other forms of media using school computers.

In addition to illegal downloading and sharing movies, the files take up space on the computer systems and use a considerable amount of bandwidth. While most universities and colleges will not look at the content an individual has -- they can isolate and identify the individuals who are hogging up bandwidth by using illegal file sharing.

The movie and music industries have stepped in and are demanding restitution for illegally downloaded movies, music and other forms of copyrighted media. They have detection agencies that have the technology to identify and trace copyright infringements straight to their source. Once the computer is located they can notify the university or the college that they are in violation. The university will be told that they have a copyright infringement claim against them. Based on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, once the computer is isolated, then Internet access is terminated to that computer and court proceedings can begin.

Does this sound far fetched? Well, it is not. You should know that a few years ago Recording Industry Association of America sued four students. These students attended Princeton, Michigan Technical University and Rensselear Polytechnic Institute. One student had an estimated liability of $150 billion. When you consider that you can be charged $750 per song that you illegally download, the total can add up fast! The good thing is the lawsuits against the college students were settled for amounts less than $20,000. That is not pocket change for college students -- or anyone for that matter!



Movies and music are meant to be enjoyed. However, illegally downloading movies and music is not much different than walking into a video store and sticking DVDs and CDs in your pocket. Be careful. You do not want to be caught violating any movie copyright laws. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/using-your-computer-to-share-music http://www.artwoo.com/article/using-your-computer-to-share-music#comments Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:25:01 +0000 sharing musicaccess musicshare musiclarge libraryefficient softwarehaving a partynapster http://www.artwoo.com/article/using-your-computer-to-share-music share music. One of the easiest and most efficient software programs for sharing music is called Acquisition and it is compatible with the Macintosh. You can download and upload music at the same time. There is a rating system so you can feel confident sharing music with those you don't know but have good feedback.

Acquisition is a free program that you can access, but you will have to learn to accept the various advertising messages. It is really worth it though because it is one of the very best programs out there for sharing music. The files have been verified so you don't have to worry about receiving or sending out any type of virus when you are using Acquisition to access music on your computer.

Most people who access music online are familiar with iTunes, and Acquisition is also compatible with it. I use them both to play music while on my computer or when I am having a party. Even my children are able to access the music library and listen to what they want from these two programs.

When you have a large library of music stored on your computer it can become difficult to locate particular songs. The best program for this is known as Azureus because it allows you to share various types of files. I generally use Acquisition when I want to access new music and then switch to Azureus when I want to find a particular song or those songs by a particular artist.

I can tell you with confidence that these are among the best programs available for sharing music. I have tried most of them out there to see what they have to offer but these stand out from the rest. Even Napster and Limewire just don't measure up. You may want to try them all out for yourself but I am positive you will get the same results as I have.

The issue of sharing music on your computer comes with some issues that you need to be aware of. Watch out for those who want to share the music you have paid for and have to offer but they don't give anything back in return. You also need to be careful not to step on any toes. There are controversial issues right now about the copyright laws for music. Make sure you only share music that you have paid for. Salihu Ibrahim also provides valuable information on directv hdtv

this website http://www.hdtv-guide-reviews.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-illegal-downloading-hurts-the-industry-and-you http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-illegal-downloading-hurts-the-industry-and-you#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:39:59 +0000 downloading music illegallystealingthat means thatbricks and mortarmusic storethink musicportable music http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-illegal-downloading-hurts-the-industry-and-you stealing. You're taking something that isn't yours, doesn't belong to you, and that you should be paying for. The rights to that music =96 to reproduce it in any way =96 belong to the artist, their record label, the songwriters=85 anyone who put their own hard work and effort into making that song you claim to love so much!

What does that mean? That means that when you reproduce a song or album without paying =96 that includes downloading and putting it on a portable music player or laptop =96 you're stealing. And stealing is illegal, right?

First of all, downloading music illegally is just that: it's illegal. It's stealing. Would you walk into a music store and take a CD off the store shelf and walk out without paying? No, and just because the CD you stole isn't sitting in a bricks-and-mortar store =96 making it harder to get caught =96 doesn't mean it's okay. That doesn't make it legal. The music you download is protected by a copyright law, and when you take it off the internet without paying for it, you're breaking that copyright law and, if you're caught, you'll be paying stiff fines and heavy penalties for it.

Also, when you download illegally, you're basically telling the artist whose song you love that their music is worthless. It has no value. Think music is only made by rich people that don't deserve more money anyway? Think again. What about the guy who wrote the song, or the technician who helped to put the sample tracks together, or even the receptionist who sat at the front desk of the studio and took phone calls every day?

All these people were involved in the creation of that song you stole, and every time you refuse to pay, you're telling them that their work is basically trash. Someone might not be able to put food on their kids' table today because the studio couldn't pay their salary. Why? Because somebody would rather steal the music for free than pay a few dollars in appreciation for hard work.

When you download music illegally, you're damaging the music industry's ability to make music. And if the music industry can't make music because you've illegally downloaded it instead of paying, there's going to come a day when no one can afford to make music anymore. Then what will you listen to? Watch http://www.joshgrobanlive.com/videos.php josh groban videos for free (legally) at our Josh site. Also check out Josh's new album, http://www.joshgrobanlive.com/awake.php Awake. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-copyright-law-act-of-1976-is-still-relevant-in-todays-digital-age http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-copyright-law-act-of-1976-is-still-relevant-in-todays-digital-age#comments Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:24:59 +0000 copyright lawcopyright lawslaw actsound recordingspreemptedpantomimescopyright symbol http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-copyright-law-act-of-1976-is-still-relevant-in-todays-digital-age Copyright Law Act of 1976 is the basis of United States copyright laws. The Copyright Law Act states the rights of copyright owners, the doctrine of the Fair Use copyright laws, and it changed the term life of copyrights. Before the Copyright Law Act, the law had not been revised since 1909. It was necessary that copyright laws be revised to take into account technological strides that were being made in radio, sound recordings, motions pictures and more. The Copyright Law Act of 1976 preempted all previous laws that were on the books in the United States, including the Copyright Act of 1909.



The Copyright Law Act of 1976 defines "works of authorship" to include all of the following:

* Musical works * Literary works * Dramatic works * Pictorial, sculptural and graphics * Motion Pictures and Audiovisuals * Sound Recordings * Choreographic Works and Pantomimes * An eighth work which falls under "architectural works" was later added in 1990.

What is unique about the United States copyright law is that it is automatic. Once someone has an idea and produces it in tangible form, the creator is the copyright holder and has the authority to enforce his exclusivity to it. In other words, the person is the owner of the creation. It is not necessary that a person register their work. However, it is recommended and it can serve as evidence if someone ever violates a copyright.

Violations of US Copyright Laws are generally enforced in a civil court setting. However, there could also be criminal sanctions brought against someone who violates US copyright laws. Someone who is in serious violation of US Copyright Laws, such as counterfeiting, can find themselves on the inside of prison. People need to understand that the copyright symbol is not a requirement. Someone may have a copyright, yet their work may not have a copyright notice or symbol.

US Copyright Law covers a wide range of things that are derived from artistic expression, intellectual or creative work. This includes things such as literary works, music, drawings, photographs, software, movies, choreographic works such as ballets and plays, poems, paintings and more. The law covers the form of expression, not the concept, facts or the actual idea of the work. This means that someone can use another person's idea or concept and produce their own take on it. However, copying another person's work is a violation. Some things may not be copyrighted but they may be protected by a patent or trademark.

Individuals who have a copyright on a particular piece of work can do what they want with it. They may choose to copy it and sell it. They may display their work or perform it in public and charge admission, or they can assign or sell the work to someone else. Individuals who have a copyright can also choose to do nothing with their work, if that is their desire. However, if someone comes along and takes the work and tries to use it in some way, that person is still in violation of the owner's copyright. The Copyright Law Act covers published and unpublished works. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-copyright-infringement http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-copyright-infringement#comments Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:15:01 +0000 copyright infringementcontactrules of engagementwikipediaintellectual property rightsstrict liabilitycopyright laws http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-is-copyright-infringement Copyright laws are constantly changing. Knowing exactly what copyright infringement is, whether you're creating an eBook, publishing articles, using music as a backtrack to your podcast, is important. Although copyright laws change from one jurisdiction to another, knowing the basic rules of copyright infringement will ensure you're following the proper rules of engagement when you create your works. Before you make any final decisions regarding the use of a work that has been copyrighted, always contact a copyright attorney to ensure you're following the law -- this will keep you from being sued or, even worse, punished in a court of law.

What is Copyright Infringement?

Copyright infringement, as defined by Wikipedia.org, states: "Copyright infringement (or copyright violation) is the unauthorized use of material that is protected by intellectual property rights law particularly the copyright in a manner that violates one of the original copyright owner's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works that build upon it. The slang term bootleg (derived from the use of the shank of a boot for the purposes of smuggling) is often used to describe illicitly copied material."

So, what is copyright infringement in plain English? It means if you're not allowed to use something, then don't use it -- plain and simple. It can be very simple to get permission to use a work -- many times you'll be able to use a "sample" of music or an excerpt of writing for a nominal fee, or a small attribution. However, if you do not have the permission of the copyright holder -- whether it's an author or a publishing house -- you can be sued for copyright infringement or worse.

What is Copyright Infringement in America?

In many jurisdictions, such as the United States of America, this act is known as a strict liability crime or tort (a tort is a civil wrong -- not a criminal wrong). This means the person who infringes the copyright -- whether intentionally or not - will be responsible for the damage or loss. Also, the prosecutor (in criminal court) or plaintiff (in civil court) must only prove that the act of copying was committed by the defendant -- they do not need to prove guilty intent. This means, even if you had no intention of committing copyright fraud or infringement, you can (and in present times, in many cases, WILL) be prosecuted, even if you used the material in good faith.

What is Copyright Infringement in Action?

Many cases of copyright infringement are difficult to see to the layperson, because the violation is not limited to exact copying. In many cases, when something is inspired by another thing -- such as in music, when the inspiration of one song is used to create an entirely different song -- it's difficult to see where the new product or "thing" has crossed the line to something illegal. Some works aren't even protected by copyright, such as compilation of facts that lack the creativity necessary to be covered by copyright, or works that are in the public domain because the copyright has expired. Knowing the difference is often very difficult to see, and because of this we've seen a number of copyright infringement cases in recent years, especially in tandem with the music industry.

As you can see, copyright infringement is a very difficult, albeit necessary, act to define. However, if you make sure you're using works that are in the public domain, or have long since been out of copyright (think Beethoven or Frankenstein), you'll be safe. Do your fair share of research. Download my free e-book, "Copyright Basics," at www.ResearchCopyright.com to learn more about how to avoid copyright infringement.



What Is Copyright Music Infringement?

In recent years, copyright infringement of music has seen an unprecedented leap in scope and scale. This is largely due to online services that allow unchecked file sharing among their subscribers. While this abuse of copyright is not only limited to music, this is where we observe the most profound effects of file sharing.

Industry giants of file sharing are emerging quickly with the demise of the pioneer for illicit file sharing, Napster. The Recording Industry Association of America (or RIAA) has made copyright music infringement their primary focus. They estimate that peer-to-peer file sharing steals 4.2 billion dollars worldwide each year from the coffers of the music industry. These estimates, however, assume people would buy every piece of music they downloaded.

The RIAA has argued that new and struggling bands are less likely to continue making music because it will no longer be profitable. The bulk of musicians' incomes result in royalties, which depend entirely on the sales of their albums.

The RIAA also argues that people burning music to CDs (which they have bought) does not constitute fair use because CDs are not "unusually subject to damage"; if they do become damaged they can be replaced affordably. This assertion has raised more than a few eyebrows and is giving rise to opponents of the RIAA who claim the lawsuits and crackdowns against those presumed guilty of copyright music infringement are actually hurting music sales and the profits of the music industry.

During the height of Napster popularity (the hallmark by which all file sharing seems to be compared) CD sales were at their highest rate ever. People were exposed to music and music groups which they otherwise may not have heard without file sharing. As a result of enjoying the music by these music groups, people bought the CDs of the music they enjoyed. It's ironic that the very lawsuits designed to stop copyright music infringement have actually managed to stifle file sharing enough that CD sales are dropping noticeably around the world.

Opponents and critics also challenge that rather than being a source of copyright music infringement, peer 2 peer networks offer unprecedented exposure for new artists and their music. Another argument against the RIAA is that the reason for the lawsuits against file sharers is because they want to keep the prices for CDs over inflated while keeping the actual royalties coming to the artists relatively low. The copyright music infringement claims made by the RIAA have become suspect.

The music industry is currently working on ways where fans can legally download music. This will mean that music fans have access to the music they love from their PCs and directly to their music playing devices without resorting to illegal copyright music infringement. The truth is most people want to do the right thing and will do so if given an alternate, easy solution. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-infringement-lawsuits-affect-individuals-and-businesses http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-infringement-lawsuits-affect-individuals-and-businesses#comments Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:30:00 +0000 copyright infringementinfringement lawsuitsinfringement lawsuituniversal music groupemailyoutubeebay http://www.artwoo.com/article/copyright-infringement-lawsuits-affect-individuals-and-businesses copyright infringement lawsuit can occur for any number of reasons: someone using a song in a podcast or radio program, a writer "borrowing" information from another work, copying video or mp3 off the Internet without permission (or sometimes, even to another CD or DVD). Copyright infringement lawsuits are not generally brought to the average person, unless they're downloading a LOT of music or movies, but usually for large operations: software pirates reselling goods on eBay or to some other unsuspecting victim, someone "sampling" a song to make another, or maybe a person reselling mp3s online.

When you understand the implications of it, copyright infringement lawsuits aren't frivolous as some people think. For the most part, the average person's familiarity with a copyright infringement lawsuit is taking down copyrighted material after receiving a nasty email.

If you use works from record albums by major recording stars (like Britney Spears or 50 Cent) to make a different recording as your own, then you can be sued for copyright infringement. Usually these suits will be lost because it's rather hard to prove inspiration, but they are rather costly and draining, especially if there isn't a large backing legal team.

Copyright infringement lawsuits for large enterprises can be costly and time consuming. If you work for someone, and you plagiarize someone on the company blog, the whole company can be sued, and you can be fired, for that infraction. Another large copyright infringement lawsuit is the eminent MySpace v. Universal Music Group, who is claiming that MySpace is knowingly committing copyright infringement by allowing users to upload copyrighted material. Even then, Universal Music Group has been negotiating with MySpace and couldn't come to an agreement -- then they filed suit.

Universal Music Group has an agreement with YouTube, where YouTube agrees to follow Universal's rules. It's worked out well thus far, and I think with an agreement in place "user created content" will retain a destination on the Internet.

This is a testament we all need to be with social networking sites and `user created content.' We need to watch ourselves, because many times we may not realize the veracity of our actions.

Sometimes, people break copyright laws on purpose. There is a huge market for pirated software -- from Windows to Photoshop to The Sims. It's very easy to share peer-to-peer, and because of that, people can resell pirated copies for a high price -- all profit. Or they'll download MP3 and resell them; or eBooks. People who resell these items get nasty penalties -- with both copyright infringement lawsuits and criminal cases. They'll pay a hefty fine and go to jail.

Copyright infringement lawsuits can affect any one of us -- from our friends on MySpace to our employer, to the computer geek down the street. It's easy to violate copyrights, and you have to watch yourself. The chances are good that you won't be involved in a major copyright infringement lawsuit, but you still need to ensure you're following copyright laws.

Copyright infringement lawsuits are important to determine what is, and isn't, applicable to copyright laws. Because of these lawsuits, our laws have changed regarding Fair Use, Internet use, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation and CreativeCommons.com. The lawsuits help us to understand what is, and what isn't fair -- and these organizations have helped the masses to understand what's so important about copyright, and why we need to defend our freedom of speech. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-fine-line-between-plagerism-and-copyright-violation http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-fine-line-between-plagerism-and-copyright-violation#comments Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:29:59 +0000 plagiarismplagiarizingoften used interchangeablyintellectual property rightsplagiaristauthor attributionpoem http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-fine-line-between-plagerism-and-copyright-violation plagiarism" and "copyright violation" are often used interchangeably. Although that may work well for most dinner table conversations, it's actually incredibly incorrect. Not all acts of plagiarism are copyright violations and the two concepts are actually quite distinct.

Copyright violation refers to the use of protected material without the appropriately expressed consent of the owner. If you take a poem I have written and to which I hold copyright and then place it on your website, you are violating my copyright. You are breaking the law.

Are you plagiarizing? Maybe. If you indicate that I am the author (attribution) you aren't really plagiarizing. You have certainly stolen my poem and you are in violation of copyright law, but you aren't passing it off as your own.

Plagiarism refers to stealing the work or ideas of another person for your own use without properly attributing the source.

Being a plagiarist can get you in trouble in academic and professional settings, but it isn't necessarily illegal.

Illegality only enters the picture at the point of a copyright violation.



Plagiarism is, primarily, an ethical issue. It involves whether it is right or wrong to copy or to steal the ideas of another and pretend as if it is your own.



Copyright, on the other hand, is a legal matter. It involves whether your use of someone else's work infringes their intellectual property rights.

All copyright violations aren't plagiarism. Not all plagiarism rises to the level of copyright violation. However, the two phenomena do overlap a great deal. In many cases, the plagiarist will be a copyright infringer. Quite often, the person violating a copyright will be in the process of plagiarizing.

Nonetheless, it does make sense to understand the difference between the two acts. If someone plagiarizes you, you may or may not have recourse. It will usually depend upon whether the act also constitutes an infringement of copyright. Brian Scott is a freelance journalist who covers copyright law for http://www.ResearchCopyright.com. Download his free e-book, "Copyright Basics" at http://ResearchCopyright.com. ]]> http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-trademarks-and-copyrights http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-trademarks-and-copyrights#comments Fri, 22 Sep 2006 20:27:07 +0000 coca cola companytrademarkword appleapple computercopyrighttrademarksmusic graphics http://www.artwoo.com/article/understanding-trademarks-and-copyrights
1. What's In A Name?

Your business name is the first thing that your customers will see - it has to, therefore, be memorable and easily identifyable. If your customers know your name, then youve already won the first step to getting them to trust you and recommend you to others. You can register a trademark to protect that - a logo or word that distinguishes you from your competition. Coca-Cola, for example, is a trademark of the Coca-Cola Company - if I start selling my own drink and calling it Coca-Cola, or even something like Cocoa-Cooler, then they can sue and force me to stop.

2. More About Trademarks

A trademark doesn't stop with just the name of your business, but can also be obtained for the products you sell. If you have, for example, the blendmaster 5000, you can trademark the name blendmaster. Trademarks can not be obtained for common words. For example, Apple computer doesn't own the word apple. If you are going to get a trademark, however, be sure it's worth it, because they will cost several hundred dollars.

3. Extention Of Trademark

A trademark can be given away and usually only applies in the country where you registered it. Also, your right to use the mark will only last a set amount of years, usually a decade.

4. What Is Copyright?

A copyright is like a trademark, except it costs nothing. The moment you write, draw, or record anything, you have copyright by creation. If someone else tries to copy it without your permission, you can sue. This article you are reading right now, for example, has copyright, although the author (me) has chosen to give away certain parts of it for free. This applies to other things as well, music, graphics, etc. Please note that microchips fall under a unique classification of copyright law and the rules are not the same. Usually, copyright lasts for fifty years after your death.

5. Copyright Is A Right

If you want to give people permission to freely use and redistribute something youve made (like this article, for example), then you have the legal right to do this. You can even give up your copyright on a piece of work altogether, simply by writing on it that you no longer want to own the copyright. It's that simple. Chances are, however, that youll want more protection, not less. For more great trademark related articles and resources check out http://www.homebusinessuniversity.info ]]>