It’s a question that has been on everyone’s mind: can a monkey own the copyright to its own selfie? A recent case set out to find the answer. The plaintiff was Naruto, a crested macaque living in an Indonesian reserve. The defendant was David Slater, a photographer...
Copyrights
Can I Copy and Distribute an Article I Was Featured In?
If you or your company have been featured in an article, you probably want to share it with the world. That's understandable. But you must be careful how you do it. You do not automatically have the right to make copies and distribute an article just because you were...
Can I Use This Downloaded Image on My Blog Post?
Many people incorrectly assume that they have the right to use any image that they can find on the internet. For example, they may have done a quick Google image search to find a photo to accompany a blog post. However, those images are still covered by copyright....
Can I Copy Just a Little Bit of This Copyright Protected Work?
It’s true that courts can dismiss infringement cases where the alleged use is considered de minimis, which means it was so insignificant that the court would not decide on the case. However, don't let this trick you into believing you can copy a little bit of a...
Copyright Tip: I Attributed the Source. Do I Still Need to Obtain Permission?
Many people assume that they are free to use copyright protected materials as long as they provide the proper attribution for the source of the materials. Unfortunately, attribution is not a substitute for securing permission. For business purposes, you must obtain...
When Does Joint Authorship Apply to a Copyright
How much do you have to contribute to a creative project to claim joint authorship? Periodically individuals call me and explain that they have been working on a book or a screenplay with a friend, and now they are not getting along due to a dispute over the content...
Copyright Tasks to Complete Before Next Year – Part 2
There is no shortage of things to get done before the end of the year, so don’t let your copyright concerns fall by the wayside. In my last post, I shared one important task for companies with DMCA agents to complete before year-end: re-file your registration with the...
Copyright Tasks to Complete Before Next Year – Part 1
When preparing to-do lists this holiday season, don’t forget to include protecting your business from infringement liability and securing copyright assets. In particular, there are two tasks you should complete before 2017 ends. Task 1: Re-file Your DMCA Agent...