Common questions about Copyright

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was the Statute of Anne enacted in England and Scotland?

The Statute of Anne was enacted in the year 1710. This legislation marked the first time a government passed a law explicitly designed to protect the rights of authors rather than just the privileges of publishers.

What year did the United States join the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works?

The United States joined the Berne Convention in 1989. The United Kingdom did not implement large parts of the convention until 1988 with the passage of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.

How much money does global online piracy cost the U.S. economy each year?

Estimates suggest that global online piracy costs the U.S. economy at least 29.2 billion dollars in lost revenue each year. This figure represents the economic impact of the digital shift in copyright law.

What is the default length of copyright in most of the world?

In most of the world, the default length of copyright is the life of the author plus either 50 or 70 years. After this period expires, the work enters the public domain.

When was the Creative Commons organization founded?

The Creative Commons organization was founded in 2001 by James Boyle, Lawrence Lessig, and Hal Abelson. This non-profit group aims to facilitate the legal sharing of creative works through generic copyright license options.