Legal Definitions - Copyright Act of 1976

The Copyright Act of 1976 is a law in the United States that governs copyright registrations and rights. It was a major revision of U.S. copyright law that made several changes:

• Extended the term of protection to the life of the author plus 50 years, measured from the date of creation
• Greatly expanded the types of works that qualify for protection
• Dropped the requirement that the work be published before it can be protected
• Made fair use a statutory defense to a claim in infringement
• Preempted state common-law copyright

For example, if an author creates a book in 2021 and lives until 2050, the book will be protected by copyright until 2100. This law also protects a wider range of works, such as computer software and architectural designs. Fair use allows for limited use of copyrighted material without permission, such as for criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

The Copyright Act of 1976 is important because it provides legal protection for creators of original works, allowing them to control how their works are used and distributed. It also encourages creativity and innovation by providing an incentive for creators to produce new works.