| The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works |
| |
| Prior to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, many countries refused to honor copyrights on works authored by foreign creators. First adopted in 1886 and modified several times since, the goal of the Berne Convention was to establish international recognition of copyrights. The countries that agreed to the Berne Convention are referred to collectively as the Union. Each Union country agreed to recognize as copyrighted literary and artistic works of foreign origin. Under the Convention, a minimum copyright term of the lifetime of the author plus 50 years was established, although Union members are entitled to set longer copyright terms. In order for an author to reserve copyrights, no registration, notice of copyright, or any other formality is necessary. As a result, foreign creators or literary and artistic works receive the same protection from a Union countries that creators in those countries receive. More... |
| |
| Procedures before Copyright Royalty Judges |
| |
| Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panels (CARPs) are ad hoc panels administered by the Librarian of Congress and the Copyright Office. CARPs adjust the rates and distribute the royalty fees collected under the various compulsory licenses and statutory obligations of the Copyright Act. More... |
| |
| Copyrights and Fair Use |
| |
| A copyright is a property right granted by federal law to authors or creators of original works such as writings, art, music and sound recordings, performances, photographs, movies, and the like. The copyright holder has the exclusive right to reproduce or copy the work, distribute or sell the work, or perform or display the work publicly. The copyright holder may also authorize others to use the work in those same ways.More... |
| |
| Trademark Dilution |
| |
| A trademark is infringed when the mark or a similar mark is used in a way that is likely to confuse the public into believing that the trademark owner is the source or sponsor of products that it does not actually make or endorse. Trademark anti-dilution laws are intended to enable trademark owners to prevent the gradual weakening or whittling away of the strength of their marks, through blurring or tarnishment, even if the public is not likely to be confused. Until 1996, trademark dilution laws consisted of a patchwork of non-uniform state statutes and common law. In early 1996, Congress enacted the Federal Trademark Dilution Act (FTDA) to provide nationwide injunctive relief for diluting uses of nationally famous trademarks. More... |
| |
| Copyright and Best Edition |
| |
| The copyright law requires that copies or phonorecords deposited in the Copyright Office be of the "best edition" of the work. The best edition of the work is the edition, which was published in the United States at any time before the date of deposit, that the Library of Congress determines is the most suitable for its purposes.More... |
| |
