Copyright Quiz

Correct! Since 1978, copyrights are automatic for anyone who creates something that has the tiniest bit of creativity and is 'fixed in a tangible medium' (aka recorded, written down, drawn, saved on a computer etc.)

Incorrect. Since 1978, you no longer have to register your work to get a copyright–it's automatic. Of course, you do have to register a work to sue someone over it. Luckily, registration is relatively cheap–about $35-$55 per work.

Incorrect. One of the main rights you get with copyright is the right to decide when and how copies can be made and who gets to make those copies.

Incorrect. One of the rights you get with copyright is the choice to make derivative works–this is anything that is based on the original (sequels, movies, toys, spin-off shows, book versions, etc.).

Incorrect. Having a copyright means you get to decide when and how your work can be shown to the public and who can do it.

Correct! Copyright itself doesn’t give you any say in what a buyer does with your physical piece once they buy it (unless it interferes with one of the rights listed above). True the buyer can’t make copies of your work without your permission, but your copyright can’t stop them from hanging your painting in their bathroom, throwing it in a fire pit, or selling their used copy to their best friend if that’s what they want to do.

Incorrect. Even though you bought the physical painting, the artist still has the copyright to the work. You can do whatever you want with that single physical painting you bought (including selling it), but you need the artist’s permission to make copies of the work or have the artist sell you the copyright along with the painting.

Correct! Even though you bought the physical painting, the artist still has the copyright to the work. You can do whatever you want with that single physical painting you bought (including selling it), but you need the artist’s permission to make copies of the work or have the artist give you the copyright along with the painting.

Incorrect. This used to be the term for copyright in the early 1900s, but in 1978, Congress made it so copyrights last a lot longer!

Incorrect. Keep going!

Correct! Since 1978, a copyright lasts for the life of the creator plus 70 years (or 90 years if the work is created by a corporation). That’s a long time!

Incorrect. Even though a copyright could easily last well over 100 years, the actual term is life of the creator + 70 years.

Incorrect. Just giving credit isn’t enough to protect you against copyright. It’s still infringement if you use someone else’s work without their permission. To avoid copyright infringement, make sure you get permission from the copyright owner before you use their work!

Correct! Just giving credit isn’t enough to protect you against copyright. It’s still infringement if you use someone else’s work without their permission. To avoid copyright infringement, make sure you get permission from the copyright owner before you use their work!

Incorrect. Fair Use isn’t a free pass and is actually really hard to prove. It’s a defense to copyright infringement, but even if you’re not doing it to make money, there’s a number of other factors you have to prove to get the Fair Use defense on your side. (For more info, see our Fair Use Q&A).

Correct! Fair Use is a defense to copyright infringement and allows you to use someone else’s copyrighted work without asking permission. To prove Fair Use, you have to look at number of factors, including (1) why and how you used the work, (2) how much copyright protection the original has, (3) how much/what part of it you used, and (4) if it takes money away from the original. (For more info, see our Fair Use Q&A).

Incorrect. Even though Fair Use can be a defense to copyright infringement, it can be tough to prove, so definitely isn’t a catch-all defense. You would have to show a number of factors in your favor to use Fair Use as a defense. (For more info, see our Fair Use Q&A).

Incorrect. Fair Use is a defense to copyright infringement. Even if someone is protected under Fair Use, the original creator still gets to keep their copyright.

Correct! Comment and criticism are both protected under Fair Use. Since readers would have to know what book you’re talking about on the blog, it makes sense that you would have to use some copyrighted material to reference it (quotes, cover art, etc.) As long as you’re commenting on the quotes, it’s likely Fair Use.

Correct! Education and research are both protected forms of Fair Use. As long as the pictures are related to the school assignment, they should be fine for you to use.

Incorrect. Not only is this a bad idea in general (your date is going to realize that you’re not really the person in that pic), this would not fall under Fair Use. It has nothing to do with education, research, news reporting, or criticism; you’re just using it for your own purposes. Definitely copyright infringement.

Correct! News reporting is protected under Fair Use. Since the picture will help readers know who the news is talking about, it makes sense that you can use the photos. (Although it's still a good idea to try and get permission to be an ethical journalist)

Incorrect. Unless your cooking video somehow is commenting/critiquing the song, this would probably not be Fair Use. YouTube is also probably going to take the video down fast for breaking copyright rules :/

Correct! Comment and criticism are Fair Use. As long as the parody is criticizing/commenting on the original song, it’s probably Fair Use.

Correct! The “public domain” is the space where works go after their copyright expires. Since no one owns them anymore, those ideas are free for anyone to use however they like! Some things in the public domain include: Frankenstein’s monster, characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (book, not the movie), classical paintings like the Mona Lisa.

Incorrect. The “public domain” is the space where works go after their copyright expires. Since no one owns them anymore, those ideas are free for anyone to use however they like! Some things in the public domain include: Frankenstein’s monster, characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (book, not the movie), and classical paintings like the Mona Lisa.

Incorrect. Even though your friend is the model (at least, one of them), copyright goes to the artist–the person who’s being creative. For photography, the law assumes that’s the person taking the picture, not the model.

Incorrect. It doesn’t matter who owns the camera, copyright goes to the person who is doing the creating–in this case, the person taking the picture.

Correct! Copyright goes to the person who is creating the work. For a photo, that would be the person taking the picture, no matter how creative the model might be.

Incorrect. It doesn’t matter if you were using snapchat, your camera app, or even a polaroid, copyright goes to the person creating the work. In the case of pictures, it’s usually the photographer.

Incorrect. As much as we hate to break it to you, it really doesn’t matter whose dog is in the picture. Copyright goes to the artist, not the model (or the model’s owner).

Incorrect. Sad as it is, only people can hold copyrights. Even if he could, copyright goes to the artist, not the model (no matter how fluffy he is).

Incorrect. Even using a tiny portion of a copyrighted work can be infringement (even if it’s just playing in the background)! Try to get permission from the copyright owner or use works in the public domain to be safe.

Correct! Even using a tiny portion of a copyrighted work can be infringement (even if it’s just playing in the background)! That’s why so many videos get taken down from YouTube. Try to get permission from the copyright owner or use works in the public domain to be safe!

Correct! A copyright goes to the creative person who created the work. Even if the school owns the camera, the student has the copyright to the photo.

Incorrect. A copyright goes to the creative person who created the work. Even if the school owns the camera, the student has the copyright to the photo.

Incorrect. A copyright goes to the creative person who created the work. It doesn’t matter that the school gave the assignment or gave the student the idea of taking the picture, the student’s creative choice of how to angle the camera and when to take the picture is the creativity that gets protection.

Incorrect. A copyright goes to the creative person who created the work. It doesn’t matter that the teacher gave the assignment or gave the student the idea of taking the picture, the student’s creative choice of how to angle the camera and when to take the picture is the creativity that gets protection.

Incorrect. A Creative Commons license is not the same thing as Public Domain! Public Domain is for work with no copyright (either it expires or the artist gives it up). A Creative Commons license is an artist letting the public use the work for free, but the artist still keeps the copyright. So, you can use the work, as long as you follow the artist’s rules (usually giving them credit).

Correct! A Creative Commons license is an artist letting the public use the work for free, but the artist still keeps the copyright. So, you can use the work, as long as you follow the artist’s rules (usually giving them credit).

Incorrect. A Creative Commons license means the artist is letting the public use the work FOR FREE, but the artist still keeps the copyright. So, you can use the work, as long as you follow the artist’s rules (usually giving them credit).

Incorrect. While it’s true that an artist keeps their copyright under a Creative Commons license, they’re giving their permission to the public to use their work for free. As long as you follow the artist’s rules (usually giving them credit), you’re not infringing.