The Basics Of Copyright Law
Getting to know the basics of copyright law

Copyright law was originally established to secure the creator of a creative effort or invention the right to control who can make copies or make works derived from the original work. Although there are many variations and subtleties within copyright law, this is the basic definition. You have the right as a creator of a legally defined creative work to control who can make copies and how they can make copies. However, there are important exceptions to this rule.
You may also sell or license your copyright. Or, if you do the work for someone who hired you to do it, you might sell your copyright to this work in advance.
It is important to clearly understand what defines a creative work. According to the law, the creative work must exist in some tangible form. This means it can’t be an idea floating through your head—it must be captured on paper, stone, or something. It must be creative—it cannot be comprised of mere factual data.

However, most things you write down in language are considered creative work. This goes for anything you record or draw or sculpt. Anything you write and post to an Internet message board, for instance, is a creative work that can fall under copyright law. Anything you create with a computer in code is also a creative work that is still able to fall under the protection of copyright law.
You may also deal with collecting work or creative editing. Although facts cannot be copyrighted, the creative organization of facts may be copyrighted. This falls under a compilation copyright.
In some countries, there are specific exceptions. Fronts printed on paper cannot be copyrighted for historical reasons. US government creations cannot be copyrighted inside the US.
Another important but simple rule is this: you cannot copyright something someone else did without their permission.
Most of copyright has to do with commerce, or the right to profit off of a creative work. Most people believe owning a copyright is the key to making money off of that copyright. Copyright is also about having complete control over one’s own creations, but commerce is the ruling king of copyright law.
Copyright law allows certain types of copying without permission in areas where social principles would be violated otherwise. The fair use doctrine lets a film critic include clips from a film to illustrate a point. You can have limited use of the work without
On the Internet, copyright laws are simple—if you didn’t write it or create it, you should reproduce it by asking the creator. It is also important to note that copyrights last seventy years after the author dies.