What are some limits to copyright protection?

The 1976 Copyright Act clearly established the rights granted to a creator, which include the exclusive rights to reproduce, adapt, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display their work. However, there are restrictions placed on the rights of a creator as established by the “Fair Use” doctrine that was later added to the 1976 Copyright Act.

A judge has the power to excuse infringing acts upon a copyrighted work, as long as those acts fall under one of the following uses: criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Furthermore, the Copyright Act states a few instances where copyright protection does not fully apply, including specific uses for educational, religious, and charitable purposes.

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The content of this article is not intended to be, and does not constitute, legal advice and does not create attorney-client privilege. Consult the attorney of your choice before embarking on any legal matter or any document preparation/filing.

Dr. Thomas R. (Terry) Williamson III is a Patent Attorney practicing in Atlanta, Georgia.

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