The public domain : find and use free content for your website, book, app, music, video, art, and more

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Title:

The public domain : find and use free content for your website, book, app, music, video, art, and more

Author:

Fishman, Stephen, author.

Nolo (Firm)

Summary:

Millions of creative works—books, artwork, photos, songs, movies, and more—are available copyright-free in the public domain. Frozen for decades due to lengthened copyright terms, the public domain has finally begun to grow again as copyrights for older works expire. Since 2019, classics such as The Great Gatsby, Sherlock Holmes, and early Alfred Hitchcock films have all entered the U.S. public domain. The only book that helps you find and identify which creative works are protected by copyright and which are not, The Public Domain covers the rules for: writings, music, art, photography, architecture, maps, choreography, movies, video, software, databases, collections. The 10th edition is completely updated to include new public domain resources and the latest legal changes to copyright protection of songs, books, photos, and other creative works, as well as public domain rules outside the U.S. It also covers when works created with artificial intelligence (AI) are in the public domain. -- Amazon.

General Note:

Includes index.

Edition:

10th edition.

Contents:

Introduction to the public domain -- The use and abuse of copyright -- Writings -- Music -- Art -- Photography -- Films and television -- Computer software -- Architecture -- Maps -- Choreography -- Databases and collections -- Titles -- Public domain elements in copyright writings -- Copyrights restored from public domain -- The public domain outside the United States -- The Internet and the public domain -- Copyright protection: how long does it last? -- Copyright notice requirements -- Traps for the unwary -- Researching copyright office records -- What should you do when a work is not in the public domain?

Physical Description:

434 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Genre:

Law for laypersons.

Handbooks and manuals.

Subject Term:

Public domain (Copyright law)

Added Corporate Author:

Nolo (Firm)

Publisher:

Nolo,

Publication Date:

2023

ISBN:

9781413330793

Publication Information:

[Berkeley, CA] : Nolo, 2023.

Call Number:

346.73 FISHMAN

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003684415	New Adult Nonfiction	346.73 FISHMAN	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Find free content and save on permission fees

Millions of creative works--books, artwork, photos, songs,movies, and more--are available copyright-free in the public domain. Frozen fordecades due to lengthened copyright terms, the public domain has finally begunto grow again as copyrights for older works expire. Since 2019, classics suchas The Great Gatsby , Sherlock Holmes , and early Alfred Hitchcock filmshave all entered the U.S. public domain.

The only book that helps you find and identify which creativeworks are protected by copyright and which are not, ThePublic Domain covers the rules for:

* writings

* music

* art

* photography

* architecture

* maps

* choreography

* movies

* video

* software

* databases

* collections

The 10th edition is completely updated to include new publicdomain resources and the latest legal changes to copyright protection of songs,books, photos, and other creative works, as well as public domain rules outsidethe U.S. It also covers when works created with artificial intelligence (AI)are in the public domain.

Author Notes

Stephen Fishman is a Washington-based attorney and the author of hundreds of articles and over 20 books, including The Copyright Handbook and Working for Yourself. His website is www.fishmanlawandtaxfiles.com.

Your Map to the Public Domain Treasure Trove	1
1 Introduction to the Public Domain	3
What is the Public Domain?	4
Dealing With Public Domain Gray Areas	12
What If Someone Challenges Your Public Domain Claim?	14
Documenting Your Use of Public Domain Materials	16
2 The Use and Abuse of Copyright	19
Copyright Law: A Short History	20
The Looting of the Public Domain	27
3 Writings	33
What Can You Do With Public Domain Writings?	34
Determining Copyright Status of Written Works	38
Is the Work Eligible for Copyright Protection?	39
Has the Work Been Published?	59
Has the Work's Copyright Expired?	62
Is the Work in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	63
Does a Copyright Trap Apply?	63
Misuse of Copyright Notices	74
Sources of Public Domain Writings	77
4 Music	79
The Difference Between Music and Sound Recordings	81
What Can You Do With Public Domain Sheet Music?	82
Has the Sheet Music Been Published?	86
Has the Copyright in the Music Expired?	93
Is the Music in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	93
Is It a Derivative Work?	94
Is It an Arrangement or Adaptation?	95
Is the Music a Collective Work?	106
Does the Musk Have Public Domain Elements?	109
Sources of Public Domain Sheet Music	112
Sound Recordings	112
5 Art	119
Part I Original Works of Art	121
What Good Is Public Domain Art?	121
Deciding Whether Original Art Is in the Public Domain	124
Has the Art Been Published?	125
Has the Copyright in the Art Expired?	129
Is the Art in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	129
Is the Artwork Eligible for Copyright Protection?	130
Do You Intend to Use the Art in Advertising or on Merchandise?	138
Is the Art Protected by a Design Patent?	139
Part II Art Reproductions	140
Is the Original Work of Art in the Public Domain?	141
Has the Reproduction Been Published?	141
Has the Copyright in the Reproduction Expired?	142
Is the Reproduction in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	142
Does the Reproduction Lack Originality?	142
Is the Reproduction Dedicated to the Public Domain?	147
Will You Use the Reproduction in Advertising or on Merchandise?	148
Are Elements of the Reproduction in the Public Domain?	148
Sources of Art Reproductions	148
6 Photography	149
What Good Are Public Domain Photographs?	150
Deciding Whether Photographs Are in the Public Domain	150
Sources of Public Domain Photographs	160
7 Films and Television	161
Part I Films	163
What Good Are Public Domain Films?	163
Has the Film Been Published?	164
Has the Copyright Expired?	166
Is the Film in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	174
Is the Film Protected by Copyright?	175
Does the Film Contain Copyrighted Visual Art?	177
Do You Plan to Use the Film for Advertising or Other Commercial Purposes?	177
Part II Television Programs	178
Has the Television Program's Copyright Expired?	179
Is the Television Program in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	180
Is It a U.S. Government TV Program?	181
Video Dedicated to the Public Domain	181
Does the Program Contain Copyrighted Visual Art?	182
Will You Be Using Public Domain TV Programs for Advertising or Other Commercial Purposes?	182
Sources of Public Domain Films and TV Programs	183
8 Computer Software	185
Is the Software Dedicated to the Public Domain?	186
Was the Software Created by the U.S. Government?	190
Has the Copyright in the Software Expired?	191
Is the Software in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	193
Sources of Public Domain Software	193
9 Architecture	195
What Good Is Public Domain Architecture?	196
Architectural Plans	197
Constructed Buildings	202
10 Maps	207
Has Copyright in the Map Expired?	208
Is the Map in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?	209
Was the Map Created by the U.S. Government?	209
Is the Map Eligible for Copyright Protection?	210
Are Elements of the Map in the Public Domain?	210
Sources of Public Domain Maps	212
11 Choreography	213
Deciding Whether Choreography Is in the Public Domain	214
Sources of Public Domain Choreography	217
12 Databases and Collections	219
Part I Databases	221
Is the Work a Database?	222
Does the Database Lack Creativity?	225
Was the Database Created by the U.S. Government?	228
Has the Copyright in the Database Expired?	230
Is the Database in the Public Domain for Lack of a Copyright Notice?	231
Is the Database Protected by Means Other Than Copyright?	231
Part II Collections of Public Domain Works	235
Are the Collected Materials in the Public Domain?	236
Does the Collection Lack Minimal Creativity?	238
Is It a De Minimis Collection?	239
Is It a U.S. Government Collection?	239
Has the Collection's Copyright Expired?	239
Is the Collection in the Public Domain for Lack of a Copyright Notice?	240
Is the Collection Protected by Means Other Than Copyright?	240
13 Titles	241
Titles of Copyrighted Works	242
Titles of Public Domain Works	247
Using Disclaimers to Avoid Public Confusion	248
Titles Used on Merchandise and Other Products	249
The First Amendment and Titles	249
14 Public Domain Elements in Copyright Writings	251
Ideas	252
Facts	256
Unprotected Elements in Works of Fiction	261
Unprotected Elements in Works of Fact	265
15 Copyrights Restored From Public Domain	271
The GATT Agreement	272
What Works Were Restored?	273
What Works Were Not Restored?	276
Who Owns Restored Works?	278
Copyright Infringement of Restored Works	278
16 The Public Domain Outside the United States	281
Introduction	282
Copyright Duration in Other Countries	285
The Rule of the Shorter Term	291
Researching Foreign Copyright Laws	294
17 The Internet and the Public Domain	297
Two Preliminary Rules	298
Internet Content in the Public Domain	299
Potential Problems Using Public Domain Materials on the Internet	306
Links and the Public Domain	311
Copyright and the Internet's Global Dimension	311
18 Copyright Protection: How Long Does It Last?	313
Works First Published in the United States	314
Copyright Term for Unpublished Works	322
Works First Published Outside the United States	325
Sound Recordings	330
19 Copyright Notice Requirements	333
Copyright Notices and the Public Domain	334
Does the Work Lack a Valid Notice?	336
Is a Copyright Notice Required?	340
Is the Omission of a Valid Notice Excused?	345
What If You Make a Mistake?	350
20 Traps for the Unwary	353
Should You Worry About Trademark or Publicity Problems?	354
The Right of Publicity	355
Trademarks	360
21 Researching Copyright Office Records	369
Researching Copyright Renewal Records for Works Published Before 1964	370
Researching Copyright Registration Records	385
22 What Should You Do When a Work Is Not in the Public Domain?	387
Find Another Public Domain Work	388
Obtain Permission to Use the Work	388
Use the Work Without Permission on the Grounds of Fair Use	391
Index	403

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents