Copyright Licenses

Copyright Protection

Copyright law is designed to protect original works of authorship that are "fixed in a tangible medium of expression".1 This encompasses a broad range of creative outputs, including literary works (such as website text, blog posts, and coding that forms part of a website's structure), musical compositions (lyrics and melodies), sound recordings (the actual recorded performances), dramatic works, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works (like original website graphics and artwork), and motion pictures and other audiovisual works (including music videos and other video content).1 As a copyright owner, one possesses exclusive rights to reproduce the work, prepare derivative works based on it, distribute copies, and publicly perform or display the copyrighted material.1 A significant aspect of copyright is that protection is automatic the moment an original work is created and fixed in a tangible form; formal registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is not a prerequisite for this basic protection.1 Generally, copyright protection lasts for the author's lifetime plus an additional 70 years.

is copyright protection global?

A copyright registration in the United States provides protection for the copyrighted work within the United States. However, copyright protection is territorial and does not extend automatically to other countries. In other words, a copyright registration in the US does not provide global protection for the copyrighted work.

If you want to protect your copyrighted work in other countries, you will need to register your copyright in those countries or territories separately. This can involve following the copyright registration procedures of each individual country or territory where you want to seek protection.

There are also some international copyright treaties and agreements, such as the Berne Convention and the WIPO Copyright Treaty, that provide some level of protection for copyrighted works in multiple countries. These treaties establish minimum standards for copyright protection and provide some mechanisms for enforcing copyright rights across borders.

In summary, while a copyright registration in the US is an important step to protect your copyrighted work within the US, it is not sufficient to protect your work globally. If you want to protect your copyrighted work in other countries, you will need to take additional steps to register your copyright or rely on international treaties and agreements.

A designated copyright agent receives notifications and infringement claims, and helps limit your liability for secondary copyright issues under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Copyleft (a play on the word copyright) is the practice of offering people the right to freely distribute copies and modified versions of a work with the stipulation that the same rights be preserved in derivative works down the line.

examples of issues

https://www.law.nyu.edu/news/ideas/memes-copyright-law-amy-adler-jeanne-fromer

Of course. This is an excellent question, as the phrase is ubiquitous but its legal meaning has changed significantly over time.

In short: "All Rights Reserved" provides virtually no additional legal protection in most countries today. The copyright protection exists the moment you create your original work, regardless of whether you use this phrase.

However, it has an important history and is still considered a best practice. Here’s a breakdown:

1. The Historical Purpose (It Was Once Required)

The phrase "All Rights Reserved" originated from the Buenos Aires Convention (BAA) of 1910, an international copyright treaty. This treaty required that a work include a statement of reservation of rights (like "All Rights Reserved") to enjoy copyright protection in member countries.

For much of the 20th century, using this phrase was a standard and necessary practice for international copyright protection, especially across the Americas.

2. The Modern Legal Reality (It's Largely Redundant)

The legal landscape changed dramatically with the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. This is the primary international copyright agreement, which most countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and all of the EU, are part of.

A core principle of the Berne Convention is "automatic protection." This means:

• Copyright is automatic the moment an original work is "fixed in a tangible medium" (i.e., written down, saved as a file, recorded, painted, etc.).
• You cannot be required to register your work or use a copyright notice (like "All Rights Reserved") to gain copyright protection.

Therefore, your website, book, or photo is protected by copyright the second you create it, with or without the notice.

3. So Why Do People Still Use It?

Even though it's not legally required, using "All Rights Reserved" or the copyright symbol (©) is still highly recommended for several practical reasons:

1. Explicit Notice: It serves as a clear warning to the public that the work is protected by copyright and that you, the creator, are aware of your rights. It removes any potential defense of "innocent infringement" (where someone claims they didn't know the work was copyrighted). While this may not absolve them completely, it can weaken their case and affect the damages you can recover.

2. Formality and Professionalism: It signals that you take your intellectual property seriously. It's a universally recognized symbol of ownership.

3. Clarity of Intent: It explicitly states that you reserve all rights granted to you by copyright law, as opposed to licensing some rights under a Creative Commons or other open license.

The Standard Modern Practice

The most common and recommended form of the notice is:

© [Year of First Publication] [Copyright Owner's Name]. All Rights Reserved.

• Example: © 2023 Jane Doe. All Rights Reserved.

What about "No Rights Reserved"? You might see this on works dedicated to the public domain (e.g., via CC0). Conversely, tools like Creative Commons licenses allow you to say "Some Rights Reserved," specifying exactly how others can use your work (e.g., for non-commercial purposes, with attribution).

Summary

	Then (Pre-Berne Convention)	Now (Post-Berne Convention)
Protection	Was required in many countries to secure copyright.	Automatic. No notice or registration is required for protection.
Purpose	A legal formality to obtain rights.	A practical warning to deter infringement and assert ownership.
Legal Benefit	Was necessary.	Provides no additional legal copyright, but can help in infringement cases by negating an "innocent infringement" defense.
Recommendation	Mandatory.	Strongly recommended as a best practice.

Conclusion: You do not need to put "All Rights Reserved" on your work to have it protected by copyright law. That protection is automatic. However, you should still use it (or the © symbol) because it acts as a clear warning, helps deter infringement, and strengthens your position if you ever need to enforce your rights in court.