Legal Information

Copyright Guidelines

Understanding copyright law and how to report violations

What is Copyright?

Copyright is a form of intellectual property protection that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution. This typically includes the right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works.

What Does Copyright Protect?

  • Literary works: Books, articles, poems, software code
  • Musical works: Songs, compositions, recordings
  • Dramatic works: Plays, scripts, choreography
  • Artistic works: Paintings, photographs, sculptures
  • Audio-visual works: Movies, TV shows, videos
  • Sound recordings: Music recordings, podcasts
  • Architectural works: Building designs and structures

What Constitutes Copyright Infringement?

Copyright infringement occurs when someone uses copyrighted material without permission in a way that violates one of the copyright owner's exclusive rights, including:

  • Reproducing or copying protected work
  • Distributing copies to the public
  • Publicly performing or displaying the work
  • Creating derivative works
  • Digital transmission of audio-visual works

Fair Use Exception

Fair use is a legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission. Fair use is determined by four factors:

1. Purpose

Is it for commercial or educational/nonprofit use?

2. Nature

Is the work factual or creative?

3. Amount

How much of the work is used?

4. Effect

Does it harm the market value?

How to Report Copyright Violations

To file a valid copyright complaint, you must provide:

  1. Identification of the copyrighted work
  2. Location of the infringing material (URL)
  3. Your contact information
  4. Statement of good faith belief
  5. Statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury
  6. Physical or electronic signature

DMCA Takedown Process

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provides a process for copyright owners to request removal of infringing content:

1

Submit Notice

Copyright owner files a takedown notice with evidence

2

Platform Review

Platform reviews and may remove the content

3

Counter-Notice

User may file counter-notice disputing the claim

4

Resolution

Content may be restored or copyright owner may pursue legal action

Important Note

Filing a false copyright claim may result in legal consequences. Only file a report if you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf. If you're unsure whether content infringes copyright, consult with a legal professional.

Submit Copyright Report