S1 E22 Don’t copy content until you listen to this episode with Wayne Carroll

S13 E22 Don’t copy content (words, images, video, music, etc.) until you listen to this episode!!

"Happy Birthday To You" is not just the world's most popular song, it was also under a copyright claim for many years. In 2016, an order was issued by a court, placing the song into the public domain. This case highlights the importance of verifying public domain status before using copyrighted works in your business. It is crucial to protect yourself from potential lawsuits. COPYING IS COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. Any time you copy, even if you modify or create new material based on what you copied, you are at risk of infringing a copyright. Copying is taking any part of a copyrighted work, even if you modify, distort, re-draw, or add significant original content. EVERYONE IS DOING IT DEFENSE DOES NOT WORK. If you see lots of websites using the image or drawing, they might all be licensing the copyright, they might all be infringing, or the material may be in the public domain. COPYRIGHT LASTS FOR A LONG TIME. The current term of copyright for an individual is 70 years after the author dies. For a work-for-hire, the term is 95 to 120 years. Don’t assume because something seems old that the copyright has expired. FAIR USE IS A VERY LIMITED EXCEPTION to copyright law. One problem with relying on fair use is that it is a defense after you get sued. You can still get sued, and then you have to convince a court that it falls under the fair use exception, which usually rules out anyone that is making money from content that is copied. It is usually better to just obtain a license. YOU NEED A LICENSE FOR MOST “OPEN SOURCE” CONTENT. Each piece of “open source” content, whether software code or a photograph has a license with requirements, such as attribution, commercial use, and creation of derivative works. In marketing, they say “content is king”. Make sure your content does not get you sued. If you are using music, videos, pictures, images, or other artwork in your business, it is essential to verify that you have permission to use the work, or that the work is in the public domain. Once you verify you have permission, keep a file that links the content to the place you obtained permission.

Our next episode covers What to do if you get a copyright infringement cease and desist letter

BIO: Wayne Carroll is a highly experienced intellectual property lawyer with over 15 years of experience. He holds a Juris Doctor degree with a concentration in Intellectual Property Law from Suffolk University Law School, as well as an undergraduate degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from DeVry University. Wayne is the CEO and Attorney at Inspired Idea Solutions, LLC, a firm he founded in 2013, where he specializes in patent strategy, patent prosecution, trademark strategy and registration, and copyright litigation.

In addition to his legal work, Wayne is an Eagle Scout and actively volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America. He is also a proud father of six children and enjoys playing pickleball. Wayne's extensive experience and expertise in intellectual property law make him a highly respected attorney and a valuable asset to clients seeking protection for their intellectual property rights. Wayne can be reached at 480-741-2440 or [email protected]. You can also connect with Wayne on LinkedIn.

Schedule an appointment with Wayne Carroll for a strategy session on protecting and leveraging your intellectual property.

TAGS: IP Strategy, Business Strategy, copyright, public domain, infringement, fair use, license, open source, content, music, videos, pictures, images, artwork