Copyright Act Of 1976

Copyright is one of the most important laws in the writing industry. Whether you are the writer or you are just a marketer, you should be able to understand the copyright law. “Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works,” (L. 2012). We might understand what the act is, but the question is, whether the Copyright Act of 1976 is useful or not.

The history of copyright all started when the printing press came into play. People started to produce more and more writings, but there was a problem. There was no copyright law, which meant anyone could claim the writing. Since there

For example, you can have an amazing idea, but if someone beats you to the punch then you are out of luck because you did not express your idea before they did. “I believe in copyright, within limited precincts. But I also believe in fair use, public domain, and especially transformation,” author David Shields says. As Shields said, he believes in copyright, but he also believes in fair use. The main purpose behind the Copyright Act of 1976 was to allow Congress to address issues in American copyright law that had arisen in reference to the technological and societal changes. The last major changes happened in 1909, making the 1976 act an important revision because of the technology advance. Another reason was to insure authors that their work would be protected by the government. The act wanted to promote the intellectual and artistic activity for the good of the society as a whole. Therefore, the act was created in purpose of helping the authors out and to encourage others to become writers. This act also gave Congress permission to regulate applications and use enforcement. The act allows them to see more of what was going on and it let them be more in control. With this act a “fixed” work could now be accessible, meaning instead of going public domain, they just had to make sure the work could be found in one media source. This was making it easier for the authors that didn’t want their work out in the media world, but still wanted some credit. The ultimate goal

Back in the day it was hard for people to copy because they had to of have an expensive printing press and expensive ink for the press. Nowadays all copiers need is copy machine and now quarters (New Media Rights. 2011). It has gotten so easy to copies things due to the internet and having the act makes it harder for those to copy other writers work. When an author creates their work, it is their creative mind and their hearts that are being poured onto paper. They don’t want someone else claiming it as their own and the act protects them from that hurt. Another reason why we need the act is if we didn’t have it, there would be mad chaos. People would be copying left and right trying to get money out of others people work. Also, kids in school would not learn because they would be able to copy whatever they want and not have to use their brains to think. For example, if someone was writing an essay on Abraham Lincoln, they could go online and copy everything on the website and use it as their own. Their essay would be done in five minutes and there would be no original work. The act restricts that and helps writers keep their credit, but it also helps others learn. This act is one of the most important laws in the writing industry and that is why it is very