Copyright Essentials: Myths Explained

There is a lot of misleading information out there about copyright. On March 27, 2024, the U.S. Copyright Office discussed what is and is not true when it comes to copyright. The Copyright Office wants to make sure you have the facts and know where to go if you need more information.
In this sixty-minute webinar, attendees learned about the Copyright Office's functions, copyright basics, and the Copyright Office's educational resources.
Speakers:
- Jessica Chinnadurai, Attorney-Advisor, Office of Public Information and Education
- Laura Kaiser, Attorney-Advisor, Office of Public Information and Education
The Copyright Office aims to broaden public awareness of what the copyright system encompasses and how to participate. A cornerstone of our current strategic plan is Copyright for All, and the Office dedicates itself to making the copyright system as understandable and accessible to as many members of the public as possible.
Resource Center
The presenters provided these related links in the chat during the webinar. The Copyright Office website is the authoritative source for copyright information.
Engage Your Creativity.This collection of resources focuses on how you engage with copyright. It starts with an overview of copyright, including basics, registration, fees, and what is and is not protected. The webpage also highlights information that different types of creators should know about copyright as well as a selection of videos the Office created. (Video reference: 08:36)
Copyright Office Circulars. The Office publishes a set of circulars to provide up-to-date and authoritative information to a general audience. Circulars cover the basics and fundamental concepts of copyright law, highlights of policies and procedures of the Copyright Office, and registration issues for specific categories of works. The presentation specifically highlighted Works Made for Hire (Circular 30). (Video reference: 13:08)
Learning Engine Video Series. The Learning Engine series of videos introduces copyright concepts and the Copyright Office to those who may be new to the topic or who want to learn more. More videos will be added in the future to this page and to our YouTube channel. (Video reference: 16:10)
Copyright Public Records. The Copyright Records Portal is the starting point for finding copyright records. Here, you can search the Office’s online records, learn about our searching and retrieval services, and view educational videos and materials. The Copyright Public Records System (CPRS) pilot is a powerful search engine that provides easy filtering capability and follows user-centered design principles. It runs in parallel with the Copyright Public Catalog, which is the official record. (Video reference: 19:50)
Copyright: Creativity at Work. The Office’s blog, Copyright: Creativity at Work, shares stories of authors, creative works, and copyright law and policy. The blog celebrates diverse creators through heritage month posts and the popular annual post “Lifecycle of Copyright: Works in the Public Domain.” (Video reference: 25:11)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The Office’s FAQs page answers many of the questions the public has about copyright in general. It also features online registration help FAQs (Video reference: 29:17) plus registration tutorial videos (Video reference: 33:18) that provide step-by-step instructions for completing registration applications.
Application Assistance: Walk Through Requests. The Office provides appointments with staff members to navigate an electronic registration application. During this thirty-minute appointment, a staff member will explain the application screens and the types of information required. (Video reference: 34:21)
Copyright Claims Board (CCB) Handbook. The CCB is a three-member tribunal housed in the Copyright Office with extensive expertise in copyright matters that provides a streamlined alternative to federal court to resolve copyright disputes involving claims up to $30,000. The Handbook provides an in-depth and authoritative resource for filing, responding to and opting out of claims, seeking assistance with your claim, and more. (Video reference: 38:10)
Copyright Office Strategic Plan. The Office’s 2022–2026 strategic plan, Fostering Creativity & Enriching Culture, features four strategic goals: Copyright for All, Continuous Development, Impartial Expertise, and Enhanced Use of Data. (Video reference: 45:40)
Copyright Subscriptions. The Office offers email subscriptions for general information and for specific interests. Subscribe to “What’s New at the U.S. Copyright Office” to receive our NewsNet notifications. (Video reference: 47:18)
Speaker Requests. The Office welcomes invitations for staff and leadership to speak at your event. Submit your request with this form. (Video reference: 48:13)
Contact the Copyright Office. You can submit an online contact form anytime. During business hours, you also can call the Public Information Office at (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-0778 (toll-free). (Video reference: 48:22)
Global Director of Intellectual Property Policy, Intel Corporation
West Coast correspondent for Publishers Weekly
Cofounder of EccoVR, West Coast creative director and chief scientist for Man Made Music, and board member of the Society of Composers & Lyricists
Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Rutgers University, and Director of the The Art & Artificial Intelligence Lab
Attorney-Advisor, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Copyright Office
Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law, University of Sussex and Editor in Chief of the Journal of World Intellectual Property
Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Partner and Chair, Automated & Connected Vehicles, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Composer, Musician, Consultant, and Professor in Music Copyright and Intellectual Property Matters at Berklee Online
Director and Counsel, Government Affairs and Public Policy, SAG-AFTRA
Chief Technology Officer, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Registration Policy and Practice, U.S. Copyright Office
Attorney-Advisor, Office of Public Information and Education, U.S. Copyright Office
Associate Professor of Law and founding Director of the Intellectual Property and Information Policy (iPIP) Clinic, Georgetown Law
Director, Copyright & IP Enforcement, U.K. Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO)
Founder and CEO, Boomy
Senior Counsel, Epic Games
Executive Director, the Authors Guild and Authors Guild Foundation
Policy Counsel, Public Knowledge
Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education, U.S. Copyright Office
SVP, Intellectual Property, NBCUniversal
General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights, U.S. Copyright Office
Acting Register of Copyrights and Director, U.S. Copyright Office
Division of Artificial Intelligence Policy, WIPO
Executive Director, EqualAI
Director, Copyright Law Division, WIPO