Copyright Basics

(See Format Note at end of document.)

Table of Contents

+ What Is Copyright?
+ Who Can Claim Copyright
+ Copyright and National Origin of the Work
+ What Works Are Protected?
+ What Is Not Protected by Copyright?
+ How to Secure Copyright
+ Publication
+ Notice of Copyright
+ Form of Notice for Visually Perceptible Copies
+ Form of Notice for Phonorecords of Sound Recordings
+ Position of Notice
+ Publications Incorporating U.S. Government Works
+ Unpublished Works
+ Omission of Notice and Errors in Notice
+ How Long Copyright Protection Endures
+ Transfer of Copyright
+ Termination of Transfers
+ International Copyright Protection
+ Copyright Registration
+ Registration Procedures
+ Original Registration
+ Special Deposit Requirements
+ Unpublished Collections
+ Effective Date of Registration
+ Corrections and Amplifications of Existing Registrations
+ Mandatory Deposit for Works Published in the United States
+ Use of Mandatory Deposit to Satisfy Registration Requirements
+ Who May File an Application Form?
+ Application Forms
+ Fill-in Forms
+ Fees
+ Search of Copyright Office Records
+ For Further Information
Read More