Copyright and Intellectual Property

Copyright is not indefinite and eventually ownership of the copyright will pass into the public domain. But how long does one get to keep the copyright? This depends on multiple factors. 

Copyright law protection begins the moment a creator creates and affixes their work to a tangible form, such as a photograph or song recording. In general, for most copyright types, copyright lasts for the life of the creator plus 70 years. Anything that was created anonymously, under a pseudonym / pen name, or works made for hire last for either 95 years from the first publication date or 120 years from creation - whichever comes first. For more detailed information please visit Copyright.gov. 

Who owns a copyright? 

Typically, the owner of the copyright is also the creator of the work itself. However, this may not always be the case. A creator of a work can give the copyrights over to another via written consent - think of publishing contracts. For works that were created by two or more people - they all share the copyright holding equally. Joint copyright holders have equal rights to exercise and enforce their rights. 

The other type of copyright holders may be from "work of hire" meaning that the creator was asked to create something for their company and therefore the company is the copyright holder. 

A note for Faculty & Staff - Under copyright law, "traditional works of scholarship" such as syllabi, lecture materials, or other basic course materials, are not considered "works of hire". 

This guide is meant to be an educational resource for those looking at copyright and intellectual property information - This is not intended to be legal advice. If you have questions about your specific situation the librarians can direct you to the proper resources but cannot advise on legal matters. Please seek out an IP lawyer for legal advice.