Q. I’m confused. What’s the difference between copyright infringement and plagiarism? Aren’t they the same? A. Your confusion is typical. The two aren’t the same – but they CAN overlap. Indeed, plagiarism can be copyright infringement, and vice-versa, but it’s also possible to plagiarize without committing copyright infringement, and infringe a copyright without plagiarizing. First, … Continue reading Copyright vs. Plagiarism
Every writer, fiction or nonfiction, should be familiar with a central tenet of copyright law: the doctrine of “public domain” work. Public domain works are, simply, anything NOT protected by copyright. Such works may be used freely by anyone without permission. The numerous changes Congress has made in the term of copyright duration, however, has … Continue reading Public Domain Works
With the recent publicity about the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), it’s an opportune time to review the existing remedies for online copyright infringement in the United States (remedies for sites hosted in other countries are different, and beyond the scope of this article.) First, I recommend that … Continue reading SOPA and PIPA
Q. I wrote my (ex) publisher asking for reversion of my rights for my out of print books. The time period specified in the contract has passed and I still haven’t heard back. I sent an email referencing the letter and my request and got no response to that, either. In that email I said … Continue reading Q&A: Reversion of Rights
Q. Is my U.S. copyright valid in other countries? If not, how do I gain copyright protection in another country? A. In most foreign countries, your U.S. copyright will be protected without any additional steps, despite the fact there exists no true “international copyright.” Historically, each country has had its own system for protecting intellectual … Continue reading Q&A: International Copyright
Q. May I use another author’s interpretations of historical events in my novel? A. This question can be important to authors of historical thriller and mysteries. In the case of Crane v. Poetic Products, Ltd. (S.D. NY 2009), a federal district court was presented with this very issue. The dispute involved an allegation that a … Continue reading Q&A: Interpretations of Historical Events