FAQ Copyrights - LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS GORDAN

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>© </B>2001 Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> All rights reserved</div> <bR> <div> <B>Law Office of</B></div> <div> <B>Elias M. Gordan</B></div> <div> Post Office Box 60</div> <div> Palos Park, IL  60464</div> <bR> <div> Phone  708.923.9735</div> <div> Email  gordanlaw@att.net</div> <div> Web    www.gordanlaw.com</div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> FACT SHEET ON COPYRIGHTS</div> <bR> <div> <B>What is a copyright?</B>   The exclusive right of an author to copy, perform, display, or transmit his or her (or their) work.  Copyrights are protected under Federal law.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Who can get a copyright?</B>   The author of a “work”.  “Work” is interpreted broadly, to include     books, newspapers, lectures, music, art, software, photos, plans, and even buildings.  Under the “work for hire” doctrine, employers are considered the “authors” of works prepared by their employees, within the scope of their employment.</div> <bR> <div> <B>How does one obtain a copyright?</B>   By creating a work.  Copyright arises automatically upon creation.  It is helpful, but not necessary to affix a © notice.  However, an author's rights can be enhanced, by registering the work with the Copyright Office, a branch of the Library of Congress.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Why register a copyright?</B>  Copyright registration is easy to do, and often can be done without the aid of an attorney.  Copyright registration is typically required, before taking legal action against unauthorized copiers.  Prompt registration provides added legal protections, and added leverage against unauthorized copiers.</div> <bR> <div> <B>How long does a copyright last?</B>   For works created on or after 1 January 1978:</div> <div> up to 70 years after the author's death, if the author is an individual</div> <div> the earlier of 95 years from publication, or 120 years after creation, if an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work for hire is involved</div> <bR> <div> <B>Can one copy a copyrighted work?</B>  The law recognizes and allows “fair use” of a copyrighted work, but only up to a certain point, which varies with the individual case.  Independent creation of a work, without ever having seen the copyrighted work, is allowed under copyright law.  However, contract terms may limit or disallow fair use.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>For links to additional useful information, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN IP Links"><U><B>click here</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DISCLAIMER:   For general information only.  Not to be considered legal advice, nor create an attorney-client relationship.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Law Office of Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> <B>16335 S. Harlem Ave., Suite 400</B></div> <div> <B> Tinley Park, IL  60477</B></div> <div> <B>708.923.9735, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net"><U><B><U>gordanlaw@att.net</U></B></U></A></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><B><U>www.gordanlaw.com</U></B></U></A></FONT><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>BACK TO HOME PAGE</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>