copyright
    n 1: a document granting exclusive right to publish and sell
         literary or musical or artistic work [syn: copyright,
         right of first publication]
    v 1: secure a copyright on a written work; "did you copyright
         your manuscript?"

Copyright \Cop"y*right`\, v. t.
   To secure a copyright on.
   [1913 Webster]

Copyright \Cop"y*right\, n.
   The right of an author or his assignee, under statute, to
   print and publish his literary or artistic work, exclusively
   of all other persons. This right may be had in maps, charts,
   engravings, plays, and musical compositions, as well as in
   books.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: In the United States in 1913 a copyright was valid for
         the term of twenty-eight years, with right of renewal
         for fourteen years on certain conditions. The term was
         extended in stages, and in 1997 the term of a copyright
         was life plus 50 years for individuals retaining their
         copyright, or 75 years for works created for hire.
         Further extension is still (1998) being discussed.
         [1913 Webster +PJC]

   International copyright, an author's right in his
      productions as secured by treaty between nations.
      [1913 Webster]

copyright

    The exclusive rights of the owner of the copyright on
   a work to make and distribute copies, prepare derivative
   works, and perform and display the work in public (these last
   two mainly apply to plays, films, dances and the like, but
   could also apply to software).

   A work, including a piece of software, is under copyright by
   default in most coutries, whether of not it displays a
   copyright notice.  However, a copyright notice may make it
   easier to assert ownership.  The copyright owner is the person
   or company whose name appears in the copyright notice on the
   box, or the disk or the screen or wherever.  Most countries
   have agreed to uphold each others' copyrights.

   A copyright notice has three parts.  The first can be either the
   copyright symbol (a letter C in a circle), the word "Copyright"
   or the abbreviation "Copr".  Only the first of these is recognised
   internationally and the common ASCII rendering "(C)" is not
   valid anywhere.  This is followed by the name of the copyright
   holder and the year of publication.  The year should be the year
   of _first_ publication, it is not necessary as some believe to
   update this every year to the current year.  Copyright protection
   in most countries extends for 50 years after the author's death.

   Originally, most of the computer industry assumed that only
   the program's underlying instructions were protected under
   copyright law but, beginning in the early 1980s, a series of
   lawsuits involving the video screens of game programs extended
   protections to the appearance of programs.

   Use of copyright to restrict redistribution is immoral,
   unethical and illegitimate.  It is a result of brainwashing by
   monopolists and corporate interests and it violates everyone's
   rights.  Such use of copyrights and patents hamper
   technological progress by making a naturally abundant resource
   scarce.  Many, from communists to right wing libertarians, are
   trying to abolish intellectual property myths.

   See also public domain, copyleft, software law.

   <Universal Copyright Convention>.

   <US Copyright Office>.

   Usenet newsgroup: <news:misc.legal.computing>.

   [Is this definition correct in the UK?  In the US?  Anywhere?]

   (2014-01-08)

COPYRIGHT. The property which has been secured to the author of a book, map, 
chart, or musical composition, print, cut or engraving, for a limited time, 
by the constitution and laws of the United States. Lord Mansfield defines 
copy, or as it is now termed copyright, as follows: I use the word copy in 
the technical sense in which that name or term has been used for ages, to 
signify an incorporeal right to the sole printing and publishing of 
something intellectual, communicated by letters. 4 Burr. 3296; Merl. Repert. 
mot Contrefacon. 
     2. This subject will be considered by taking a view of, 1. The 
legislation of the United States. 2. Of the persons entitled to a copyright. 
3. For what it is granted. 4. Nature of the right. 5. Its duration. 6. 
Proceedings to obtain Such right. 7. Requisites after the grant. 8. 
Remedies. 9. Former grants. 
     3.-1. The legislation of the United States. The Constitution of the 
United States, art. 1, s. 8, gives power to congress "to promote the 
progress of science, and the useful arts, by securing, for limited times, to 
authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and 
discoveries. In pursuance of this constitutional authority, congress passed 
the act of May 31, 1790; 1 Story's L. U. S. 94, and the act of April 29, 
1802, 2 Story's L. U. S. 866, but now repealed by the act of February 3, 
1831, 4 Shars. Cont. of Story, 2221, saving, always such rights as may have 
been obtained in conformity to their provision. By this last mentioned act, 
entitled "An act to amend the several acts respecting copyrights," the 
subject is now regulated. 
     4.-2. Of the persons entitled to a copyright. Any person or persons, 
being a citizen or citizens of the United States, or resident therein, who 
is the author or authors of any book or books, map, chart, or musical 
composition, or who has designed, etched, engraved, worked, or caused to be 
engraved, etched or worked from his own design, any print or engraving, and 
the executors, administrators, or legal representatives of such person or 
persons. Sect. 1, and sect. 8. 
     5.-3. For what work the copyright is granted. The copyright is 
granted for any book or books, map, chart, or musical composition, which may 
be now, (February 3, 1831, the date of the act,) made or composed, and not 
printed or published, or shall hereafter be made or composed, or any print 
or engraving, which the author has invented, designed, etched, engraved or 
worked, or caused to be engraved, etched or worked from his own design. 
Sect. 1. 
     6.-4. Nature of the right. The person or persons to whom a copyright 
has been lawfully granted, have the sole right and liberty of printing, 
reprinting, publishing and vending such book or books, map, chart, musical 
composition, print, out or engraving, in whole or in part. Sect. 1. 
     7.-5. Duration of the copyright. The right extends for the term of 
twenty-eight Years from the time of recording the title of the book, &c., in 
the office of the clerk of the court, as directed by law. Sect. 1. 
     8. But this time may be extended by the following provisions of the 
act. 
     9. Sect. 2. If, at the expiration of the aforesaid term of years, such 
author, inventor, designer, engraver, or any of them, where the work had 
been originally composed and made by wore than one person, be still living, 
and a citizen or citizens of the United States, or resident therein, or 
being dead, shall have left a widow, or child, or children, either or all 
then living, the same exclusive right shall be continued to such author, 
designer, or engraver, or if dead, then to such widow and child, or 
children, for the further term of fourteen years: Provided, that the title 
of the work so secured shall be a second time recorded, and all such other 
regulations as are herein required in regard to original copyrights, be 
complied with in respect to such renewed copyright, and that within six 
months before the expiration of the first term. 
    10. Sect. 3. In all cases of renewal of copyright under this act, such 
author or proprietor shall, within two months from the date of, said 
renewal, cause a copy of the record thereof to be published in one or more 
of the newspapers printed in the United States, for the space of four weeks. 
    11.-Sect. 16. Whenever a copyright has been heretofore obtained by an 
author or authors, inventor, designer, or engraver, of any book, map, chart, 
print, cut, or engraving, or by a proprietor of the same; if such author or 
authors, or either of them such inventor, designer, or engraver, be living 
at the passage of this act, then, such author or authors, or the survivor of 
them, such inventor, engraver, or designer, shall continue to have the same 
exclusive right to his book, chart, map, print, cut or engraving, with the 
benefit of each and all the provisions of this act, for the security 
thereof, for such additional period of time as will, together with the tune 
which shall have elapsed from the first entry of such copyright, make up the 
term of twenty-eight years, with the same right to his widow, child, or 
children, to renew the copyright, at the expiration thereof, as is provided 
in relation to copyrights originally secured under this act. And if such 
author or authors, inventor, designer, or engraver, shall not be living at 
the passage of this act, then, his or their heirs, executors and 
administrators, shall be entitled to the like exclusive enjoyment of said 
copyright, with the benefit of each and all the provisions of this act for 
the security thereof, for the period of twenty-eight years from the first 
entry of said copyright with the like privilege of renewal to the widow, 
child, or children, of author or authors, designer, inventor, or engraver, 
as is provided in relation to copyrights originally secured under this act. 
    12.-6. Proceedings to obtain a copyright. No person shall be entitled 
to the benefit of this act, unless he shall, before publication, deposit a 
printed copy of the title of such book, or books, map, chart, musical 
composition, print, out, or engraving, in the clerk's office of the district 
court of the district wherein the author or proprietor shall reside, and the 
clerk of such court is hereby directed and required to record the same 
therein forthwith, in a book to be kept for that purpose, in the words 
following (giving a copy of the title under the seal of the court, to the 
said author or proprietor, whenever he shall require the same:) "District 
of_____to wit: Be it remembered, that on the _____ day of ______ Anno 
Domini, A. B. of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title 
of a book, (map, chart, or otherwise, as the case may be,) the title of 
which is in the words following, to wit; (here insert the title;) the right 
whereof he claims as author (or proprietor, as the case may be in conformity 
with an act of congress, entitled 'An act to amend the several acts 
respecting copyrights.' C. D. clerk of the district." For which record, the 
clerk shall be entitled to receive from the person claiming such right as 
aforesaid, fifty cents; and the like sum for every copy, under seal, 
actually given to such person or his assigns. The act to establish the 
Smithsonian Institution, for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 
men, enacts, section 10, that the author or proprietor of any book, map, 
chart, musical composition, print, cut, or engraving, for, which a copyright 
shall be secured under the existing acts of congress, or those 'which shall 
hereafter be enacted respecting copyrights, shall, within three months from 
the publication of said book, etc., deliver or cause to be delivered, one 
copy of the same to the librarian of the Smithsonian Institution, and one 
copy to the librarian, of Congress Library, for the use of the said 
libraries. 
    13.- 7. Requisites after the grant. No person shall be entitled to the 
benefit of this act, unless he shall give information of copyright being 
secured, by causing to be inserted, in the several copies of each and every 
edition published during the term secured, on the title page, or the page 
immediately following, if it be a book, or, if a map, chart, musical 
composition, print, cut, or engraving, by causing to be impressed on the 
face thereof, or if a volume of maps, charts, music or engravings, upon the 
title or frontispiece thereof, the following words, viz: "Entered according 
to act of congress, in the year by A. B., in the clerk's office of the 
district court of ___________________" (as the case may be.) 
    14. The author or proprietor of any such book, map, chart, musical 
composition, print, cut, or engraving, shall, within three months from the 
publication of said book, map, chart, musical composition, print, cut, or 
engraving, deliver or cause to be delivered a copy. of the same to the clerk 
of said district. And it shall be the duty of the clerk of each district 
court, at least once in every year, to transmit a certified list of all such 
records of copyright, including the titles so recorded, and the date of 
record, and also all the several copies of books or other works deposited in 
his office, according to this act, to the secretary of state, to be 
preserved in his office. 
    15.-8. The remedies may be considered with regard, 1. To the penalties 
which may be incurred. 2. The issue in actions under this act. 3. The costs. 
4. The limitation. 
    16.-1. The penalties imposed by this act relate, first, to the 
violation of the copyright of books secondly, the violation of the copyright 
of prints, outs or engravings, maps, charts, or musical compositions 
thirdly, the printing or publishing of any manuscripts without the consent 
of the author or legal proprietor; fourthly, for inserting in any book, &c., 
that the copyright has been secured contrary to truth. 
    17.-First. If any other person or persons, from and after recording 
the title of any book or books, according to this act, shall, within the 
term or terms herein limited, print, publish, or import, or cause to be 
printed, published, or imported, any copy of such book or books, without the 
consent of the person legally entitled to the copyright thereof, first had 
and obtained in writing, signed in presence of two or more credible 
witnesses, or shall, knowing the same to be so printed or imported, publish, 
sell, or expose to sale, or cause to be published, sold, or exposed to sale, 
any copy of such book, without such consent in writing, then such offender 
Shall forfeit every copy of such book to the person legally, at the time, 
entitled to the copyright thereof and shall also forfeit and pay fifty cents 
for every such sheet which may be found in his possession, either printed or 
printing, published, imported, or exposed to sale, contrary for the intent 
of this act; the one moiety thereof to such legal owner of the copyright as 
aforesaid, and the other to the use of the United States; to be recovered by 
action of debt in any court having competent jurisdiction thereof. 
    18.-Secondly. If any person or persons, after the recording the title 
of any print, cut or engraving, map, chart, or musical composition, 
according to the provisions of this act, shall, within the term or terms 
limited by this act, engrave, etch, or work, sell, or Copy, or cause to be 
engraved, etched, worked, or sold, or copied, either on the whole, or by 
varying, adding to, or diminishing the main design, with intent to evade the 
law, or shall print or import for sale, or cause to be printed or imported 
for sale, any such map, chart, musical composition, print, cut, or 
engraving, or any parts thereof, without the consent of the proprietor or 
proprietors of the copyright thereof, first obtained in writing, signed in 
the presense of two credible witnesses; or, knowing the same to be so 
printed or imported, without such consent, shall publish, sell, or expose to 
sale, or in any manner dispose of any such map, chart, musical composition, 
engraving, cut, or print, without such consent, as foresaid; then such 
offenders shall forfeit the plate or plates on which such map, chart, 
musical composition, engraving, cut, or print, shall be copied, and also all 
and every sheet thereof so copied or printed, as aforesaid, to the 
proprietor or proprietors of the copyright thereof; and shall further 
forfeit one dollar for every sheet of such map, chart, musical composition, 
print, cut, or engraving, which may be found in his or their possession, 
printed or published, or exposed to sale, contrary to the true intent and 
meaning of this act; the one moiety thereof to the proprietor or 
proprietors, and the other moiety to the use of the United States, to be 
recovered in any court having competent jurisdiction thereof. 
    19. Nothing in this act shall be construed to extend to prohibit the 
importation or vending, printing or publishing, of any map, chart, book, 
musical composition, print, or engraving, written, composed, or made by any 
person not being a citizen of the United States, nor resident within the 
jurisdiction thereof. 
    20. Thirdly. Any person or persons, who shall print or publish any 
manuscript whatever, without the consent of the author or legal proprietor 
first obtained as aforesaid, (if such author or proprietor be a citizen of 
the United States, or resident therein,) shall be liable to suffer and pay 
to the author or proprietor all damages occasioned by such injury, to be 
recovered by a special action on the case founded upon this act, in any 
court having cognizance thereof; and the several courts of the United States 
empowered to grant injunctions to prevent the violation of the rights of 
authors and inventors, are hereby empowered to grant injunctions, in like 
manner, according to the principles of equity, to restrain such publication 
of any manuscript, as aforesaid. 
    21.-Fourthly. If any person or persons, from and after the passing of 
this act, shall print or publish any book, map, chart, musical composition, 
print, cut, or engraving, not having legally acquired the copyright thereof, 
and shall insert or impress that the same hath been entered according to act 
of congress, or words purporting the same, every person so offending shall 
forfeit and pay one hundred dollars; one moiety thereof to the person who 
shall sue for the same, and the other to the use of the United States, to be 
recovered by action of debt, in any court of record leaving cognizance 
thereof. 
    22.-2. The issue. If any person or persons shall be sued or 
prosecuted, for any matter, act or thing done under or by virtue of this 
act, he or they may plead the general issue, and give the special matter in 
evidence. 
    23.-3. The costs. In all recoveries under this act, either for 
damages, forfeitures, or penalties, full costs shall be allowed thereon, 
anything in any former act to the contrary notwithstanding. 
    24.-4. The limitation of actions is regulated as follows. No action or 
prosecution shall be maintained in any case of forfeiture or penalty under 
this act, unless the same shall have been commenced within two years after 
the cause of action shall have arisen. 
    25.-9. Former grants. All and several the provisions of this act, 
intended for the protection and security of. copyrights, and providing 
remedies, penalties, and forfeitures in case of violation thereof, shall be 
held and construed to extend to the benefit of the legal proprietor or 
proprietors of each and every copyright heretofore obtained, according to 
law, during the term thereof, in the same manner as if such copyright had 
been entered and secured according to the directions of this act. And by the 
16th section it is provided that this act shall not extend to any copyright 
heretofore secured, the term of which has already expired. 
    26. Copyrights are secured in most countries of Europe. In Great 
Britain, an author has a copyright in his work absolutely for twenty-eight 
years, and if he be living at the end of that period, for the residue of his 
life. In France, the copyright of an author extends to twenty years after 
his death. In most, if not in all the German states, it is perpetual; it 
extends only over the state in which it is granted. In Russia, the right of 
an author or translator continues during his life, and his heirs enjoy the 
privilege twenty-five years afterwards. No manuscript or printed work of an 
author can be sold for his debts. 2 Am. Jur. 253, 4. Vide, generally, 2 Am. 
Jur. 248; 10 Am. Jur. 62; 1 Law Intell. 66; and the articles Literary 
property; Manuscript.