Source: http://www.artistrights.info/generall/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 14:39:12+00:00

Document:
Copyright law is designed to protect specific expression of ideas rather than the ideas themselves. Thus, nobody can have a monopoly on ideas under copyright law. This is called the idea/expression dichotomy.
The first sale doctrine is another limitation on the exclusive rights granted by copyright. The doctrine allows lawful owners of copies of a work to share, resell, give away, or otherwise distribute them.
The public domain is our shared cultural heritage, comprised of works that are not protected by copyright. Works in it can be used or appropriated by anyone without liability for infringement. Works that are presently in the public domain include works published in the United States before 1923, federal government publications, and established facts.
Single authorship: author’s life plus 70 years.
Joint authorship: last surviving author’s life plus 70 years.
Works for hire (i.e. a work produced by an employee within the scope of his or her employment or by an independent contracts under a written agreement) and anonymous and pseudonymous works: 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.
Generally, works created after 1922 but before January 1, 1978, if their copyright registrations were properly renewed, are protected for 95 years, but not necessarily.
Go to http://www.copyright.gov for further information on what works are protected by copyright and how to secure a copyright.
Blanch v. Koons--A fashion photographer sued Jeff Koons over his use of her image.
Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.--2 Live Crew sampled Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman." The owner of the copyright sued the band for copyright infringement.
Cariou v. Prince--Cariou sued Richard Prince for the use of his photographs in Prince's work.
Kienitz v. Sconnie Nation--In finding fair use of a photograph that was altered for an apparel image, the court criticized the “transformative use” analysis in Cariou v. Prince and instead applied the statutory four-factor test.
Leibovitz v. Paramount Pictures Corp--Leibovitz sued Paramount for using one of her photographs to promote the release of a movie.
Mattel Inc. v. Walking Mountain Productions--Mattel sued Tom Forsythe over his series of photographs "Food Chain Barbie" for copyright infringement of Barbies.
Rogers v. Koons--Rogers sued Koons over the appropriation of his "Puppies" photograph.
SunTrust Bank v. Houghton Mifflin Co--A copyright challenge to "The Wind Done Gone" by the holder of the copyright to "Gone With the Wind."
United Features Syndicate Inc. v. Koons--Koons produced sculptures using images from the Garfield comic strip, the owner of the copyright sued for a violation.

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