Copyright Artfully Explained: The Illustrated Legal Guide for Visual Artists by Deborah Reid, Esq. with Mary Atwood teaches artists about what a copyright is and how it impacts their work. This book tells the stories of actual court cases and translates legalese into plainer language. This beautifully illustrated tome is organized into five main sections: The Subject Matter of Copyright charts what types of work are afforded copyright protection. The two threshold requirements of copyrightability, originality and fixation are explained. The types of work eligible and categorically ineligible for copyright protection are catalogued. The Public Domain is explored. The Exclusive Rights of Copyright examines the bundle of exclusive rights conferred on artists for a limited time to allow them to monetize their work. The rights include the right to duplicate the work (quite literally the "copy" right), the right to make derivative works, the rights of public performance and display and the distribution right. The Ownership of Copyright explains can be an author or copyright owner The specific requirements Works Made for Hire are explained. Some guidelines to keep collaborations from turning into quagmires are suggested. The Fair Use Doctrine Fair use is the right to use copyrighted work without payment or permission in some circumstances. The four statutory factors used to analyze fair use are explained. Actual exhibits from actual fair use cases provide a colorful example. The Legal Care and Protection of Copyrights provides a guide on how and why to use copyright notices, the important benefits of copyright registration and how to register works. The legal remedies of infringement lawsuits, DMCA Take Down Notices and the newly enacted small claims procedures for copyright infringements are summarized.
