Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More

Author - Stephen Fishman ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from NOLO was reviewed on 31-Oct-2008.

Search ISBN:1413308589 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More Reference Book. Classifications : Patent, Trademark & Copyright Intellectual Property Law Subjects Books General Intellectual Property Law Subjects Books General AAS Intellectual Property Law Subjects Books General Law Subjects Books . Click the following link to view the cover of Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More.

Related topics: Law. Subjects. Books. General. Law. Subjects. Books. General AAS. Law. Subjects.

1) Paperback Book Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More by NOLO. An exceptional source of information on what one can use, where one can find it and when to use it. As an author, I often ask myself the question of what type of sources I can cite in my work, how much of them I cite and what I may not know that can come to haunt me because of this lack of knowledge. And it is with great pleasure that I can say ´Public Domain´ answered these questions. The book is a detailed guide to the types of materials and their copyright protection to make me feel safe one when I include a particular source in my writings.

I found especially interesting the section on the types of public writings I can use, especially whether the work have been properly published and is eligible for copyright protection, or whether the copyright has expired. Of course, the sections on music, art, photography and software are also very helpful with sufficient detail to make anyone aware of how and when to beware of plagiarizing of ideas.

Additionally, the book gives enough information on the international copyrights to satisfy any ambiguity that may exist in your mind. I highly recommend this book to any author, musician, software developer or architect who is search for answers to some of the most important questions of their work - is my idea unique.
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2) Paperback Book Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More by NOLO. Most people assume that everything has a copyright and can not be used free or with the creator´s said permission. However, this reference guide makes it easy on how to find and use content in the public domain.

The book first introduces you to what the public domain is and where the gray areas are of dealing with materials within. The reader will also get a lesson on what copyrights protect and what they don´t.

Chapters three through 11 cover specific topics of interest to most people regarding copyright: writings, art, movies, television, and computer software. From chapter 12 on, NOLO outlines various areas of copyright rules and protections a person must know while handling and dealing with information from the public domain. There is also a discussion regarding copyrights versus trademarks.

As a writer, I found this reference guide useful as I think of ideas to write my screenplays.¤

3) Paperback Book Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More by NOLO. There´s plenty of useful information on copyright law online, but this book is much more comprehensive and detailed in defining what is and is not in the public doman. It´s aimed more at potential users of writings, music and art than at their original creators. However, since the book clarifies copyright law so well, it´s actually an excellent reference for musicians, writers and visual artists.

Separate sections cover writings, music, art, photography, movies and tv programs, software, maps, architecture and choreography. There´s also a useful section on databases -- an important copyright area for websites that update frequently. Trademarks, design patents and publicity (i.e. the need to get permission before photographing a person) are also covered.

This is not the only book on copyright law that a creative worker will need. For artists, The Legal Guide for Visual Artists, by Ted Crawford, covers contracts and other legal matters as well as copyright. Writers will probably want a reference copy of The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook, by Lloyd J. Jassin and Steve C. Schecter.

However, this book is a valuable addition. Certainly if you´re a collage artist or work in any field that incorporates creative work from other people, you should have this book on hand to consult. It´s a reference book, not a book to read from cover to cover.¤

4) Paperback Book Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More by NOLO. The text covers copyright law for a large set of materials: writings, music, art, photography, film and television, computer software, architecture, maps, choreography, compilations, and titles. The book does not provide much help in how to find public domain materials; it only explains how to confirm that a copyright has expired for a particular item.¤

5) Paperback Book Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More by NOLO. This is a pretty comprehensive guide to the rules of public domain, and what kinds of media are no longer under copyright protection. It doesn´t aim to be a listing or catalog of writings or art that are in public domain, but it does a helpful job of pointing the reader in the right direction to find out. As the book says, there are millions of writings, photos, artwork, songs that are free to use by anyone. Lots of examples are provided, but more importantly the reader will be able to figure out if a piece is no longer protected.

It´s not a book about how to plagiarize, make no mistake. Many people think that using someone else´s work is an artistic no-no. Well, it is when you don´t provide credit. The point of the book is not that people should take "Hamlet" and put their name as the writer. Rather the idea is that if you want to write your own adaptation, you are free to do so. Or if you want to quote extensively from it or publish your own version or stage a production of it, you can freely do so.

There are many examples dealt with about the gray areas where copyright may or may not still apply. One such story is about the movie "It´s a Wonderful Life", long thought to have been in the public domain but turned out not to have been. Other tricky areas are covered to, such as when dealing with music compositions. While a piece of written music may well be in the public domain, a specific arrangement of it may not be. The book sorts through all these issues, making it a truly valuable reference volume for anyone who is an artist, entertainer, or in some other business that makes use of public domain materials.¤

6) Paperback Book Public Domain, The: How to Find and Use Copyright Free Writings, Music, Art & More by NOLO. Need content? It´s free for the taking!

Even though you´ve always been told otherwise, writers and artists can copy other people´s work and get away with it. How? By dipping into the public domain, where everything is free for the taking.

The Public Domain is the only book that helps you find and identify what creative works are protected by copyright- and what´s not. The book provides specific information about: