PUBPOL 201 Lecture 4: Copyright Law - Day 3
Document Summary
The purpose of copyright law in the constitution: to promote the progress of science and the useful arts . Copyright law codifies a constant balancing act: must balance the rights, needs and desires among: Users and the public: all stakeholders should be kept in mind, no matter which side you are passionate about. Minimal degree of creative expression: work of authorship. Authorship can be considered in many different mediums: fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Permanent enough to be perceived by an audience. The copyright holder: default rule: the creator is the copyright holder. Joint creators hold joint rights: work for hire makes the employer the copyright holder, independent contractors hold their own copyright. Ideas to distinguish: the underlying ideas, facts and inspirations of a copyrightable work, a work of authorship, copies of a work, the underlying copyright in a work. Section 106: the exclusive right of a copyright holder: reproduction, derivative works.
