Copyright

Copyright

Copyright is a form of protection given to the authors or creators of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works.

Here's a Quick Check to determine if a document is protected by coyright: 1. Are you only providing a link to the document? 2. Was the document produced before 1923? 3. Was the document produced by the federal government?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, you may use the document without violating copyright. Otherwise you must consult the guidelines for Fair Use to determine whether or not you may use the document without violating copyright: 1. Will the use be for non-profit and educational purposes? 2. What is the nature of the work (creative or factual)? 3. What percentage of the document is being used? 4. Will the use have an effect on the potential market (value) of the document? See [|Copyright - Doctrine of Fair Use]

From here it is a judgment call. If you are using the entire document and it may have an effect on the market value, you may not be using it "fairly" and may want to find another document.

[|Copyright Kids] This website was designed to teach school-age children the basics of copyright law.

Here are some links to information regarding Copyright from the Library of Congress : [|Taking the Mystery out of Copyright] [|Copyright and Primary Sources] [|Frequently Asked Questions about Copyright] [|Copyright Law] [|Checklist for Conducting a Fair Use Analysis Before Using Copyrighted Materials]