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Contributor: Jay Gregorio. Lesson ID: 13261
Have you ever heard a song and thought it sounded familiar? Or read something you saw somewhere else before? The more we create, the more we need copyright laws to protect our original works!
Before you do, you might want to double-check if it's copyrighted.
Take this iconic image of former President Barack Obama, for example.
This image, designed by artist Shepard Fairey, was based on a photograph taken by Mannie Garcia for the Associated Press (AP) during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Fairey didn't ask permission to use the original photograph, leading to a legal battle between him and the AP. But here's the twist: Fairey argued that his photo use fell under fair use, a provision in copyright law that allows limited use of someone else's work without permission.
Learn what copyright is, what fair use really means, and why it's so essential in our digital world.
What Is Copyright?
Imagine you've written the best story ever—one that's flying off the shelves, and readers can't get enough. But then, you discover that someone has copied and published part of your story in their book without your permission.
Thanks to copyright law, you have the right to protect your work. Copyright applies to everything you create—a book, a song, a movie, or a photograph.
This law gives you the exclusive right to . . .
If someone uses your work without asking for permission, that could be copyright infringement. And if you can prove that someone copied your work on purpose and used it for financial gain, you have the right to claim it!
What About Fair Use?
Well, yes, sometimes you can—thanks to something called fair use.
Fair use lets you use small portions of copyrighted works without needing permission, but only in certain situations.
For example, if you’re using someone’s work for teaching, commentary, criticism, or research, you might be covered under fair use. But don’t get carried away! You can’t just copy and paste an entire song or book chapter into your project.
The use must be limited and for a specific purpose, like education or commentary.
So, if you’re writing an essay about your favorite book, you could probably quote a small section of it. But if you're making a video with someone else’s music, you'll need to get permission unless the song falls under fair use.
How Long Does Copyright Last?
Copyright law doesn’t last forever.
If you create something, you own the rights to it for the rest of your life, plus 70 years after your death. That means your family could still control your work long after you’re gone.
If you and a friend create something together, the copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of the last person involved.
Watch this video to review what you've learned.
Now that you understand the basics of copyright, you’re ready to dig deeper!
Move to the Got It? section where you can test your knowledge and explore examples of what’s okay to use—and what isn’t.
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