Copyright protection, provided under Title 17 of the U.S. Code, exists for original works of expression, including literary, musical, dramatic, choreographic, graphic, pictorial, and sculptural works; motion pictures and other audiovisual works; and sound recordings. While the law was written before the ready availability of computers, computer-generated work is also covered.

What isn't covered under copyright?

Works that cannot be copyrighted include: works not fixed in a tangible form of expression; improvisational speeches not recorded; titles, names, short phrases, or slogans; familiar symbols or designs; listings of ingredients or contents; principles, discoveries, methods, systems, processes, concepts, or devices; and common-property information such as calendars, weight and height charts, and other such lists and charts.

What does copyright mean?

A copyright gives the owner the exclusive rights to and the authority to permit others to: reproduce the copyrighted work; prepare derivative works based on the copyrighted work; distribute copies or recordings of the copyrighted work to the general public; and to perform and/or display the copyrighted work in public. Copyright protection covers only a particular description, arrangement, or form; it does not offer protection from others writing their own description, creating their own arrangement, or making their own form.

Impact of Computers on Copyright Protection

Computers have given anyone with the right skills and software the ability to copy and modify text and photographic images. As a result, it is becoming more and more difficult to determine whether an item is an original work that might be copyrighted.

Repercussions of Copyright Infringement

Failure to protect copyrights can lead to fines ranging from $250 to $10,000 per infringement. Some state laws provide even greater fines

Sample Release Statement

______________ (name of customer), (hereinafter referred to as "Customer"), warrants that customer is the copyright owner or has secured the right to reproduce in copies and to distribute copies of all copyrighted works printed pursuant to this agreement. Further, Customer warrants that the work to be printed pursuant to this agreement has not been altered, defaced, mutilated or otherwise modified without the permission of the author in violation of any right of the author recognized under common law or state law. Customer hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless TYPEStyles against any and all loses suffered by TYPEStyles or any of its officers, employees or assignees for copyright infringement, or for alternation, defacement, mutilation or other modification of the work without the author's consent, or any other cause of action based on the rights of the author of the works printed pursuant to this agreement. Such indemnification shall include actual and statutory damages, fines, attorney's fees that may be awarded to the plaintiff or incurred in defending against an action, and all other legal costs incurred in defending against such actions.

Credit:

http://www.gain.net/