Document details

Introducing Copyright: A Plain Language Guide to Copyright in the 21st Century

Vancouver: Commonwealth of Learning (COL) (2009), xiii, 152 pp.

Contains index

ISBN 978-1-894975-32-2

CC BY-NC-ND

"The authors of all kinds of works, from the humble email to blockbuster films, rely on copyright to protect what they produce. But authors and those who use their work are often unclear about what copyright allows and what it prohibits. This book was written for those who want to learn about copyright in the 21st century. It explains copyright protection and what it means for copyright holders and copyright users. It also introduces readers to contemporary topics: digital rights management, open licences, software patents and copyright protection for works of traditional knowledge. A final chapter tries to predict how technology will change the publishing and entertainment industries that depend on copyright. The book assumes no special knowledge and avoids technical language as much as possible." (Publisher description)
1 Copyright History, 1
2 International Copyright Agreements, 11
3 Copyright Works, 25
4 Holders' Rights, 39
5 Users' Rights, 57
6 Copyright Licences, 73
7 Collecting Societies, 79
8 Open Licences, 87
9 Digital Rights Management, 111
10 Software Protection, 119
11 Traditional Knowledge, 129
12 Copyright Reform, 139