Faculty Resources

"In copyright law, there are a lot of different types of works, including paintings, photographs, illustrations, musical compositions, sound recordings, computer programs, books, poems, blog posts, movies, architectural works, plays, and so much more!" - What is Copyright? (Copyright.gov)

Works must be:

• FIXED - Fixed in a tangible medium, like a piece of paper or video recording: an idea alone cannot be copyrighted.

• ORIGINAL - It is not necessary for a work to be completely original. Existing works may be combined, adapted, or transformed in new ways that make them eligible for copyright protection.

• MINIMALLY CREATIVE - Only a slight degree of creativity is all that is required to be eligible for protection.

Forms, Facts, Names, Slogans, Words, Ideas, plus certain types of works:

• Works in the public domain 
• Government publications, including judicial opinions; public ordinances; administrative rulings; data and statistics
• Works created by federal government employees as part of their official responsibilities
• Works for which copyright wasn't obtained or for which copyright has expired

1. Reproduction - the right to make copies of the work
2. Distribution - the right to sell or otherwise distribute copies of the work
3. Adaptation - the right to prepare new, derivative, works based on the protected work
4. Performance and display - the right to perform or display the work (such as a stage play, movie, or painting) in public