Copyright Guide Table of Contents

Copyright law can be confusing…

Authored by Laura N. Gasaway, Paul B. Eaton Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pocket Copyright Guide for Publishers helps alleviate this problem.

Each chapter covers a specific topic including basics of copyright law; registration; assignments and transfers; granting and obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted works; the use photographs, audiovisual works and other materials from websites; exceptions to copyright, such as fair use; licensing and collective rights societies; the digital environment; enforcement of copyright; international aspects of copyright; and industry trends.

1. Copyright basics —  Requirements for obtaining a copyright, what is eligible for protection, authorship, works for hire, ownership, duration of copyright, exclusive rights of the copyright owner, the rights a publisher must have, what constitutes infringement, damages, etc.
2. Registration of copyrights, assignments and transfers – Importance of copyright registration, how to register a work, obtaining assignments from the author or other copyright holder, transfers of copyright and recordation of transfers.  What happens to the copyright upon the death of the author, dealing with copyright heirs, and terminations of copyright after the statutory period for licenses expires.
3. Permissions (seeking and granting) – How to seek permission to use copyrighted works in compilations and other works, the utility of establishing a system for granting permission for use of works for which the company holds copyright, and orphan works,
4. Using photographs, music, audiovisual works and other nonprint materials from websites – Difficulties in determining the copyright status of these works, how to seek and document permissions, disclaimers, royalty free images, and decisions to use works without permission.
5. Exceptions to copyright protection:  first sale, fair use, educational and library uses – Understanding fair use, first sale and other statutory exceptions to the Copyright Act, considering whether to grant greater rights to use works to certain institutions and individuals.
6. Licensing and collective rights societies – Overview of major collective rights societies, determining whether to join a collective rights society, royalties, and Creative Commons licenses.
7. The digital environment – Unique copyright problems the digital environment has created for publishers, necessary grant of rights, institutional repositories and open archives, and mass digitization cases.
8. Enforcing copyrights – How publishers can enforce their rights without litigation, liability, criminal infringement, remedies and defenses, and license violations.
9. International aspects – Protecting copyrights internationally, and whether to be concerned about such protection.
10. Trends – What publishers may expect as predicted by recent litigation and Congressional action and discussions, and operation of law trends.

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