Question 1

When you buy a physical object, such as a handwritten speech by President Clinton, you also own all copyright rights in the work.

Accepted Answer

Owning a physical object does not automatically transfer copyright ownership to the buyer. The copyright owner (in this case, President Clinton or whoever he assigned the rights to) still holds the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display the speech, unless they specifically transfer those rights to the buyer through a license or assignment agreement.

Question 2

After Nadia finishes her novel she decides to ask a friend to add an illustration to each chapter. The two are joint authors.

Accepted Answer

Collaboration on illustrations does not make the friend a joint author of the novel. The friend would be an illustrator, not an author.

Question 3

Tyler and Jason are joint authors of a song composed in 2000. Tyler died in 2010, and Jason died in 2015. How long does copyright in the work last?

Accepted Answer

The copyright lasts until 2085, which is 70 years after the last surviving co-author's (Jason's) death.​

Question 4

For copyright rights to be maintained, copyright registrations must be renewed.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. In general, copyright registrations do not need to be renewed for copyright rights to be maintained. However, copyright owners should be aware of any applicable deadlines for renewals, especially for works created prior to 1978 in the United States.

Question 5

​ Three authors work on a book. They have no agreement as to division of profit. How will profit of $100,000 be divided?

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​ Three authors work on a book....

Question 6

A transfer of copyright must be in writing.

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Copyright Act, a transfer of copyright ownership must be in writing to be valid.

Question 7

​Copyrights are items of property and thus may be transferred or  devised by will.

Accepted Answer

Copyrights are considered intellectual property and, like other forms of property, can be transferred or passed down through a will.

Question 8

To be joint authors, each party's contributions must be equal.

Accepted Answer

Joint authorship can be established even if the contributions are not equal, as long as each author's contribution is original and substantial. However, the determination of joint authorship can vary depending on the applicable law and any agreements between the parties involved.

Question 9

A work created by an employee while on the job is presumed to be owned by the employer under the ______ doctrine.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A work created by an employee while...

Question 10

​ Transfers of copyright must be recorded with the Copyright Office.

Accepted Answer

Transfers of copyright do not have to be recorded with the Copyright Office to be valid; however, recording a transfer does provide certain legal advantages, such as serving as a public record of the transfer.

Question 11

Any joint author of a work may grant an exclusive license to another party to use the work without permission of any coauthors.

Accepted Answer

Under copyright law, all joint authors must agree to grant an exclusive license. Any one author can grant a non-exclusive license, but exclusive rights require the consent of all co-authors.

Question 12

Leigh is hired by ABC Inc. to prepare a software program for a company. She works at home, has hired her own assistants, receives no benefits from ABC, and pays her own taxes. When the work is completed, Leigh begins working for another company. Leigh and ABC have no agreement as to ownership of copyright in the final work. Discuss which party owns the copyright in the software program.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Leigh is hired by ABC Inc. to...

Question 13

If a copyright owner transfers any one of her rights in a copyright (for example, he transfers the right to reproduce the work), all other rights  are automatically transferred as well.

Accepted Answer

Only the specific right that is transferred is transferred. All other rights remain with the copyright owner unless they are explicitly transferred.

Question 14

A work created by Josh during the scope and course of his employment with Target is owned by Target.

Accepted Answer

This is a general principle of copyright law known as the "work for hire" doctrine. If an employee creates a work within the scope of their employment, the employer is considered the owner of the copyright in that work.

Question 15

There are four authors of a film. One grants a nonexclusive right to Moonlight Distributors to distribute the film in the United States. The other three authors were not consulted. Is this grant permissible? Discuss and indicate how profits arising from the distribution would be divided.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are four authors of a film....

Question 16

If a worker is an independent contractor rather than an employee, copyright in works created by that worker are typically owned  by the worker.

Accepted Answer

Independent contractors typically retain the copyright to the works they create, whereas employees usually create works within the scope of their employment and thus the copyright is owned by the employer.

Question 17

​ A copyright can be used as collateral to secure repayment of a loan.

Accepted Answer

Yes, a copyright can be used as collateral to secure repayment of a loan. The lender can foreclose on the copyright if the borrower defaults on the loan.

Question 18

​ Ellen and Emily sit at a piano and collaborate on music and lyrics for a song. Are the two joint authors? Discuss.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​ Ellen and Emily sit at a...

Question 19

Duration of copyright in works made for hire is the same as duration of copyright in other works.

Accepted Answer

The duration of copyright in works made for hire is either 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter, which differs from the general rule for other works where copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.

Question 20

Andrew and Brad write alternating chapters of a book about the Iraq war. Andrew is in Arizona, and Brad is in Michigan. Are the two joint authors? Discuss.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Andrew and Brad write alternating chapters of...

Quiz 12: Copyright Ownership Transfers and Duration

When you buy a physical object, such as a handwritten speech by President Clinton, you also own all copyright rights in the work.

After Nadia finishes her novel she decides to ask a friend to add an illustration to each chapter. The two are joint authors.

Tyler and Jason are joint authors of a song composed in 2000. Tyler died in 2010, and Jason died in 2015. How long does copyright in the work last?

For copyright rights to be maintained, copyright registrations must be renewed.

​ Three authors work on a book. They have no agreement as to division of profit. How will profit of $100,000 be divided?

A transfer of copyright must be in writing.

​Copyrights are items of property and thus may be transferred or devised by will.

To be joint authors, each party's contributions must be equal.

A work created by an employee while on the job is presumed to be owned by the employer under the ______ doctrine.

​ Transfers of copyright must be recorded with the Copyright Office.

Any joint author of a work may grant an exclusive license to another party to use the work without permission of any coauthors.

If a copyright owner transfers any one of her rights in a copyright (for example, he transfers the right to reproduce the work), all other rights are automatically transferred as well.

A work created by Josh during the scope and course of his employment with Target is owned by Target.

There are four authors of a film. One grants a nonexclusive right to Moonlight Distributors to distribute the film in the United States. The other three authors were not consulted. Is this grant permissible? Discuss and indicate how profits arising from the distribution would be divided.

If a worker is an independent contractor rather than an employee, copyright in works created by that worker are typically owned by the worker.

​ A copyright can be used as collateral to secure repayment of a loan.

​ Ellen and Emily sit at a piano and collaborate on music and lyrics for a song. Are the two joint authors? Discuss.

Duration of copyright in works made for hire is the same as duration of copyright in other works.

Andrew and Brad write alternating chapters of a book about the Iraq war. Andrew is in Arizona, and Brad is in Michigan. Are the two joint authors? Discuss.

Three authors work on a book. They have no agreement as to division of profit. How will profit of $100,000 be divided?

Copyrights are items of property and thus may be transferred or devised by will.

Transfers of copyright must be recorded with the Copyright Office.

A copyright can be used as collateral to secure repayment of a loan.

Ellen and Emily sit at a piano and collaborate on music and lyrics for a song. Are the two joint authors? Discuss.