Copyright is a form of legal protection that fosters innovation and creative expression by protecting the rights of authors in their original works while simultaneously encouraging the creation and dissemination of new works. While ideas and facts may not be copyrighted, copyright law protects materials created in a variety of forms: sculptures and architectural works, books and letters, music, photographs, paintings, movies, and more. Under current U.S. law, an original work is automatically protected by copyright when it is created and fixed (basically, writing it down or recording it in some manner), even if it is not accompanied by a copyright notice or a copyright symbol (©). Works created before March 1989 have different rules about notice. Copyright eventually expires; when that happens, works enter the “public domain” and are free to use and reuse. Article I, Section 8, clause 8 of the United States Constitution provides authority for the Copyright Act, found in title 17 of the United States Code (17 U.S.C. § 101, et seq.). Copyright law plays an important role in promoting creativity by protecting the creations of authors, artists, musicians, and others from unauthorized copying, distribution, adaptation, public display, and public performance. Because each use of a work is unique, this guide provides only general and somewhat simplified information and should not be taken as legal advice. You, as a user of Library collections, ultimately have the responsibility for complying with copyright law. For more information on the fundamentals of copyright, see the Copyright Office’s "Copyright Basics." Review the Copyright Office’s Frequently Asked Questions, the Copyright Office's copyright educational video series, and other Copyright Office publications like its Circulars, Fair Use Index, and Compendium, or consult an attorney if you have additional questions about copyright.