World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event to promote reading, publishing and copyright, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Since 1995, the 23rd of April has been a day to celebrate content creators and the laws that protect their works.
Here at CCC, we know content and copyright go hand-in-hand. Many professionals consume and share copyrighted materials all day long, and while most employees have good intentions, copyright infringement risks still can pop up.
To help you and your fellow employees better understand copyright, we’ve comprised a list of 8 resources, created by both the CCC team and some of our friends in the industry.
1. WATCH: Understanding Copyright Basics
Take a six-minute crash course with Jim the Librarian, as he explains the basics of U.S. copyright law and how it affects you at work.
2. FIND: A Copyright Owner
If you’re looking to identify and locate a copyright owner or creator in order to license a copyrighted work, Copyright Alliance has created a list of databases to find copyright owners. The lists are broken down by music, literary works, photographs, general information and international resources.
3. READ: Top 10 Misconceptions About Copyright
Copyright is often misunderstood. Routine content exchanges made by employees may in fact be placing your organization at a greater risk of infringement.
In this paper from Copyright Clearance Center, read about the common misconceptions around information sharing in the workplace and guidelines for educating employees on the responsible use of content.
4. WATCH: What is Fair Use?
One of the most frequently asked questions lawyers hear when it comes to copyright: What About Fair Use? In this 3-minute video, copyright expert Fred Haber gives us a quick overview of what fair use is and what it’s designed to do:
5. REVIEW: U.S. Copyright Office’s Fair Use Index
Speaking of fair use, the U.S. Copyright Office has a publicly-available index to track judicial decisions to help both lawyers and non-lawyers better understand the types of uses courts have previously determined to be fair—or not fair. Each decision has “a summary of facts, the relevant questions presented, and the court’s determination as to whether the contested use was fair.”
6. READ: What Is (And Isn’t) Protected by Copyright?
Routine content exchange such as sharing published reports, articles and other information found on the Web, have copyright implications, which can expose companies to a greater risk of infringement. While you may know the basics of copyright, your colleagues and staff may not.
Use this complimentary quick reference guide to educate yourself and fellow employees on the responsible use of content.
7. ATTEND: Copyright Certificate Programs
CCC is pleased to offer the Copyright Education Certificate Program. Developed for professionals who deal with copyright issues on a day-to-day basis, the program is comprised of industry-specific courses that target a variety of user communities and the challenges faced in managing copyright.
The program is comprised of a series of instructor-led eLearning courses incorporating group discussions, question and answer sessions and analyses of real-world scenarios, including group and individual activities. Upon completion of the modules that comprise each individual course, participants receive a certificate.
Explore Copyright Certificate Programs here.
8. USE: The Public Domain Slider
Not sure whether a work protected by copyright?
For works published in the U.S., the American Library Association created the Public Domain Slider – a tool to help determine copyright status, based on the first publication of the work in question.
If you have additional questions about copyright and how it can impact your business, Copyright Clearance Center is here to help. Simply send an email to blog@copyright.comwith your copyright questions.