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  Copyright Basics: An overview
  Copyright is the right of the authors to control the use of their work. Infringing on someone's copyright can result in civil liability (money damages) and/or criminal liability.

Outline

  1. What is copyright?
  2. Where did copyright law originate?
  3. Why is copyright important?
  4. When does a work become copyrighted?
  5. How long does copyright last?
  6. What can be copyrighted?
  7. What cannot be copyrighted?
  8. What are the copyright holder's exclusive rights?
  9. What is the public domain?

 
 

The mission of the University Copyright Office is to educate the Purdue University community on copyright.
The information contained on the UCO site should not be considered legal advice.
Individuals should consult their own attorneys.
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