History of Copyright
Copyright law in the United States is as old as the country itself. Congress passed the first federal copyright law in 1790, which protected just maps, charts, and books. Since then, copyright has expanded to protect a wide range of creative works and provide exclusive rights, exceptions, and limitations that benefit both owners and users of copyright-protected works. This video highlights the evolution of U.S. copyright law and the establishment of the U.S. Copyright Office.
Copyright Tutorials
Copyright Tutorials (from Copyright & Fair Use Stanford Libraries)
- Copyright for Librarians A free online tutorial developed by the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School and Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL).
- Introduction to Copyright Law A free, online course from MIT’s OpenCourseWare. Electrical Engineering & Computer Science course, with specifics on copyright applying to music and audiovisual content. Reading list, syllabus and 4 video lectures.
- University of Texas “Copyright Crash Course”, with sections on multimedia creation, digital libraries and copyright, copyright management, licensing and online presentations.
- Columbia University Correcting Course: Rebalancing Copyright Columbia University in the City of New York and the Office of Information Technology Policy (OITP) of the American Library Association present Correcting Course: Rebalancing Copyright for Libraries in the National and International Arenas. Correcting Course offers a high-level briefing on developments in the United States and in international venues affecting the balanced interpretation and application of copyright. It promotes a renewed activism in support of fair use and the full complement of copyright exceptions and limitations which enable libraries to serve their communities.
- Denison University – Copyright in 90 Seconds This site is designed for instructional purposes and offers a variety of methods by which you can educate yourself about copyright law. The information contained on this site is not meant as legal advice. The content was prepared to inform those in the academic community about copyright. If you are seeking legal or expert assistance, please seek the services of a competent legal professional.
Source: Sponsored by Stanford Libraries Home, Justia, NOLO, LibraryLaw.com & Onecle.
Copyright Office Video Series
Learning Engine Video Series
The Learning Engine series of videos introduces copyright concepts and the Copyright Office to those who may be new to the topic or who want to learn more. More videos will be added in the future here and to our YouTube channel. Subscribe to the channel to be notified when new videos are available.
Online Instruction
Books & Articles
Use of this Guide & Sources Consulted
Use of the Guide
This guide is designed to provide basic, general information about copyright, and does not constitute legal advice, it is for reference purposes only. The links to third party sites in this guide are provided for your convenience. Klinck Memorial Library does not take responsibility for the content of these other sites.
Copyright and Fair Use Information at CUC
Created November 20,2024 by Ann Berens & Erika Quintana