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Intellectual Property Copyright

Technology Related Problems

Benefits of Copyright

How to Protect Your Work

How to Avoid Copyright Infringement

When is Permission not Needed?

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In today's society, most individuals have heard of copyrights, but are unsure what a copyright is and why a copyright would be needed. As technology increases so does the need for individuals to know the facts about copyright and why it's important to have work copyrighted.

Whether you occasionally browse the Internet or are a web designer, it is important to understand copyrights.

According to Dianne Brinson and Mark Radcliffe, authors of An Intellectual Property Law Primer for Multimedia and Web Developers, "There are two reasons why it is important for you as a multimedia developer or publisher to be familiar with the basic principles of copyright laws:

• Multimedia works are created by combining "content"—music, text, graphics, illustrations, photographs, software—that is protected under copyright law. Developers and publishers must avoid infringing copyrights owned by others.
  
  
• Original multimedia works are protected by copyright. The Copyright Act's exclusive rights provision gives developers and publishers the right to control unauthorized exploitation of their works." (1996)

For a web developer it is very important to understand copyrights and the laws relating to copyright. Understanding and following the laws of copyright will only protect the developer from possible lawsuits and legal fees. "An understanding of legal issues is essential to success in the multimedia industry. Mistakes can cost the multimedia developer tens or even hundred of thousands of dollars in legal fees and damages."[1]