Copyright Basics Guide

For over 150 years, the Copyright Office has been at the forefront of U.S. copyright. As part of the Library of Congress since 1870, and recognized by Congress as a separate department of the Library since 1897, the Copyright Office registers copyright claims, records information about copyright ownership, provides information to the public, and assists Congress and other parts of the government on a wide range of copyright issues, both simple and complex.

A guide on Copyright Basics from the U.S. Copyright office that reviews what materials can and cannot be protected, length of copyright, copyright notices, and much more.

The Cornell University Legal Information Institute is a small not-for-profit group that believes everyone should be able to read and understand the laws that govern them, without cost. We value accuracy and objectivity. We carry out this vision by: (1) Publishing law online, for free, (2) Creating materials that help people understand law, and (3) Exploring new technologies that make it easier for people to find the law.

Stanford University Libraries offers an extensive guide on copyright, fair use, public domain, and more. They also offer opinions on copyright law cases from the Stanford Law School, including a popular Twitter page.

Copyright Advisory Services provides information on understanding copyright and how it relates to work, course materials, and scholarly communications. Much of the information comes from Kenneth D. Crews, who wrote several books on copyright for librarians and education professionals.