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Patent and Trademark Resource Center at Oklahoma State University: Copyright

Copyright

U.S. Copyright Office

Copyright gives protection for creative expression, not the facts.

  • Automatic protection is given to printed works, websites, software, artwork, photo, video, some software, procedures manuals, and practically everything on the Internet, once “fixed in any tangible medium of expression” but register for more protection
  • Administered by the U.S. Copyright Office
  • Provision in Title 17 of the United States Code
  • Duration of protection runs the life of the author, plus 70 years
  • Register and search records at copyright.gov/
  • Cost: $45 for a single registration
  • See Circulars
  • Register Software as a Literary Work
  • Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices

See Copyright Term and the Public Domain - Copyright Services - LibGuides at Cornell University

Architecture and fashion drawings and elements of each can receive copyright protection.

Copyright Notice

Form and Placement of the Copyright Notice

The copyright notice generally consists of three elements:

  1. The symbol © (the letter C in a circle), or the word "Copyright" or the abbreviation "Copr.";
  2. The year of first publication of the work; and
  3. The name of the owner of copyright in the work.

© 1996 Jane Doe
Unpublished Work © 1995 Jane Doe