Copyright

Understanding copyright helps you protect your own creative work and respect the rights of others. This section outlines the basics of U.S. copyright law, what types of works are protected, and how long those protections last.

What Is Copyright?

Copyright law grants creators a set of exclusive rights over their original works for a limited period. It allows them to benefit from their creations while also including exemptions that let the public use copyrighted material under specific circumstances.

Copyright holders have the right to:

• Reproduce the work
• Distribute or sell copies of the work
• Prepare derivative works (such as translations or an audiobook version)
• Perform the work (recite, act, or play)
• Display the work
• License any of these rights to third parties
• Transfer or give away copyright entirely

What Works Are Copyrightable?

For a work to be protected by copyright, it must meet two criteria:

• Creativity: The work must contain at least a minimal amount of creativity.
• Fixed form: The work must be captured in a tangible medium, such as paper, a computer file, or a recording.

Examples of copyrightable works include:

• Literary works
• Computer software
• Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works (e.g., paintings, drawings, carvings, photographs, clothing designs)
• Architectural works (buildings, blueprints, drawings, diagrams, models)
• Sound recordings (songs, music, spoken word, or other recordings)
• Audiovisual works (films, videos, video games)
• Pantomimes and choreographic works
• Dramatic works and accompanying music (plays and musicals)

Not all works are copyrightable. Ideas, concepts, procedures, and methods are not protected by copyright. U.S. federal government documents are also in the public domain and not subject to copyright protection.

How Long Does Copyright Last?

• Individual works: The life of the author plus 70 years.
• Corporate or institutional works: 120 years from creation or 95 years from publication, whichever is later.

Once your work exists in a physical or digital form—such as a written document, photograph, or computer file—it is automatically protected by copyright. You do not need to take any additional action.

However, you may choose to register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office:

• Registration creates a public record establishing you as the copyright holder.
• It is required if you wish to seek monetary damages in the event of infringement.

You can register your work through the U.S. Copyright Office’s Registration Portal.

Most people have seen a copyright notice (©) on books, websites, and other materials. While the notice is not required, you may include it to clearly indicate the identity of the copyright holder.

Explore the resources below for detailed guidance on copyright law, EMU policies, and additional university and government materials that explain how copyright applies in academic settings.

If you have questions about copyright, fair use, or any of the topics on this page, help is just a click away. 

• Julia K. Nims, Scholarly Communications Librarian – Contact Julia for help with copyright questions, open access publishing, and author rights.
• Subject Librarians – Get discipline-specific support for research, publishing, and teaching materials.