Texas Legal Entities
Copyright
Copyright is a method of protecting an author’s original work. It does not protect a work that is unique, rather it protects original thought or production. In most cases, a copyright lasts between 50 and 70 years after the author’s death, or between 90 and 120 years after production for anonymous or corporately owned material.
Works that are not copyrighted are part of the public domain, and can be used at will with no regard to the author. After the copyright expires for a given work, it becomes part of the public domain. Finding historical facts or scientific research are not copyright-eligible works, as they too are considered public. Original contribution is required for a copyright.
It is important to note that the copyright system is built to encourage new, original work. The idea is to take existing copyrights or public information and build on them, through original contributions, to create something new. The requirements for original work are not terribly strenuous, and the amount of originality does not have to be overwhelming, as long as there is something substantive that did not previously exist.
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Understanding copyright and trademark law is important for any author, artist, and business. It can sometimes be a bit confusing to navigate through these statutes, so contact the experienced business formation experts of Texas Legal Entities today at 512-472-2431 for guidance.
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