Copyright
Passman - pp 197205
Basic Concepts of Copyright
Copyright = “the right to copy”; aka, “a limited duration monopoly” Designed to promote the progress of science and useful arts by giving creators exclusive rights to their works for a while. Copyright protects the WAY a song (et al) is expressed, not the idea behind it. Copyrightable works have to be original, and of sufficient material to be a work
Decided on a case-by-case basis
History
Romans Act of Queen Anne 1710 (began 1623 when patents received protection) - a right to benefit financially is articulated, including the right to control. (limited duration) US Constitution 1789, Article 1, section 8: Congress shall Power…to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.
More History
1790 Act - established at term of 14 years with a 14 year renewal Over the years amendments added protection to prints, music compositions, dramatic works, photos, fine arts 1909 Act - extended term to 28/28, protected on published works 1976 Act (went into effect 1978) - codified “fair use”, based term on death of author (70 years after death of last surviving author) for works created after 1976, granted exclusive rights when work fixed in tangible form
Issues in Copyright Copyrightability Exclusive
rights and limitations Ownership and formalities Infringement Remedies
Copyrightability
Fixed in a tangible medium of expression? Original? (originality vs. novelty) Independent origin? Minimal creativity? Among categories of “works of authorship”? (1) literary works;(2) musical works, including any accompanying words;(3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music;(4) pantomimes and choreographic works;(5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works;(6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works;(7) sound recordings; and(8) architectural works.
Ownership and Formalities
Initial vesting – – –
Generally Works made for hire Joint works
Transfers Duration Formalities – –
Notice Registration
Duration - Works Created on or after January 1, 1978 (section 302) Single
Author Works: Life of author plus 70
years Joint Works: Life of last surviving author plus 70 years Works Made for Hire and Works by Unidentified Anonymous and Pseudonymous Authors: 95 years from first publication, or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
Formalities: Notice & Registration Section
408, Copyright Act:
[T]he owner of copyright or any exclusive right in the work may obtain registration of the copyright claim by delivering to the Copyright Office the deposit specified by this section together with the applications and fee [currently $45] registration is not a condition of copyright protection.
http://copyright.gov/
Why Register? Certificate
is prima facie evidence of
validity Prerequisite to infringement action for infringement of exclusive rights Prerequisite to certain remedies – –
Attorneys’ fees Statutory damages
Architecture of Rights & Limitations Exclusive
rights created by copyright law General and specific limitations on exclusive rights Copyright law seeks to balance the incentive to create with the need for public access
Copyright’s Exclusive Rights adaptation
distribution
reproduction Public performance
public display
Exclusive Rights and Limitations Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following: • • •
• • •
to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords; to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work; to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending; to perform the copyrighted work publicly; to display the copyrighted work publicly; and to perform sound recordings publicly by digital audio transmission.
Section 115 - Compulsory License When phonorecords of a nondramatic musical work have been distributed to the public in the United States under the authority of the copyright owner, any other person may . . . obtain a compulsory license to make and distribute phonorecords of the work. A person may obtain a compulsory license only if his or her primary purpose in making phonorecords is to distribute them to the public for private use.
Compulsory Mechanical Licenses
Mechanical royalties: payment for devices ‘serving to mechanically reproduce sound” Compulsory Mechanical royalty provision: once a song has been recorded, a copyright owner must license it to: Anyone who wants to use it and, For a specific payment established by the law Can only receive license if : - a non-dramatic musical work - previously recorded - public distribution - phonorecord use
Exclusive Rights of Section 106 Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following: 1) 2) 3)
4) 5) 6)
to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords; to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work; to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending; to perform the copyrighted work publicly; to display the copyrighted work publicly; and to perform sound recordings publicly by digital audio transmission.
“Derivative Work” Defined (§ 101) A “derivative work” is a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation, musical arrangement, dramatization, fictionalization, motion picture version, sound recording, art reproduction, abridgement, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed or adapted. A work consisting of editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship, is a “derivative work.”
“Performance” Defined (§ 101) To “perform” a work means to recite, render, play, dance, or act it, either directly or by means of any device or process or, in the case of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, to show its images in any sequence or to make the sounds accompanying it audible.
“Public” Performance (17 U.S.C. §§ 101(1)-101(2))
Performance Clause (Clause 1) – –
To perform in any place open to the public To perform in any place where a substantial number of persons outside of the normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered
Transmission Clause (Clause 2) – –
To transmit to a place specified in first clause To transmit to the public, by means of any device or process, whether the members of the public actually receive it in the same place or in separate places, or at the same time or at different times
Exemptions to Public Performance Right
Face-to-face instructional performances § 110(1) Instructional transmissions § 110(2) Religious performances § 110(3) Nonprofit performances § 110(4) Aiken exemption § 110(5) Performances at agricultural fairs § 110(6) Performances to promote retail record sales § 110(7) Performances for the handicapped §§ 110(8-9) Performances by veterans’ and fraternal organizations § 110(10) Secondary transmissions § 111
Copyright Law Issues Copyrightability Ownership
and formalities Exclusive rights and limitations Infringement Remedies
Elements of “Copying”: Modern Approach
Factual Similarity: Similarity Proof of copying as a factual matter – –
Direct evidence Circumstantial evidence Access Probative similarities
Infringing Similarity: Similarity Proof of copying as a legal matter – –
Nature of “things” copied by defendant Quantity and quality of expression copied by defendant
Section 107: Fair Use Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified in that section, for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include -(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
Four Fair-Use Factors of Section 107 Purpose
and character of use Nature of copyrighted work Amount and substantiality of copyrighted work used Effect of use on economic value of copyrighted work
Copyright Law Issues Copyrightability Ownership
and formalities Exclusive rights and limitations Infringement Remedies
Civil Copyright Remedies
Equitable relief – –
Monetary relief – – –
Injunctive relief Affirmative equitable relief Actual damages suffered by copyright owner Profits of infringer Statutory damages
Miscellaneous – –
Costs Attorneys’ fees