Public
Domain
Public domain
works do not
have copyright protection and can be
used by anyone for any purpose.
There are laws defining what is in the
public domain and what is not. Absence of
a © does make an item automatically
usable by anyone.
What are some public
domain items you can freely
use?
Search for “Public Domain”
OR “Copyright Free”
materials. That’s how the
Public Domain symbol
above was found.
Use materials dated before 1923. OK,
that’s old, but you may still find some great
stuff.
Many items dated between 1923 and
1964 are in the public domain because the
copyright was not renewed. Check these
items carefully because they may still be
copyrighted!
Numerous government
documents are in the public
domain and are packed full
of useful information!
NC Students
& Copyright
What you need to know
to create your own
presentations!
This brochure was developed by Bitsy
Griffin 2010
References:
copyright. (n.d.). The American Heritage® New
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition.
Retrieved July 12, 2010 from
http://dictionary.reference.com
Copyright 101. (n.d.). Provo, UT: Brigham Young
University. Retrieved July 10, 2010 from
http://www.lib.byu.edu
Copyright in an electronic environment. (1997).
Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of
Public Instruction. Retrieved July 10, 2010
from
http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/copyright1.html
Teaching copyright. (n.d.). San Francisco, CA: Copyright definition:
Electronic Frontier Foundation. Retrieved
on July 10, 2010 from “A grant of an exclusive right to
http://www.teachingcopyright.org produce or sell a book, motion picture,
work or art, musical composition,
Images: software, or similar product during a
Most images used came from the MS Office specified period of time”
ClipArt Gallery.
~ American Heritage Dictionary
All other images were retrieved from
http://Clker.com and are in the public domain.
How do you know if it’s Fair Use & Multimedia How much copyrighted
copyrighted? Presentations material can you use?
There are three indications that The law provides for limited Here are a few things to consider
a work is copyrighted and uses of copyrighted works when putting together a
belongs to someone else: presentation.
without getting the owner’s
1. Fixation – the work can be read, seen
permission.
or heard Motion Picture: 10% or 3
Be very careful when using the work of
others. NC has some helpful rules to follow
minutes
for multimedia presentatons:
Always reference every Photograph: 5 pictues
work you use in your from one artist & the
presentation! whole picture can be used
2. Originality – the work was originated
and created by a person
The opening screen Collection of pictures
and printed materials 10% or 15 pictures
should include this
statement:

3. Minimal creativity – the work should Music: 10% or 30 seconds

be at least a little bit creative
This presentation has been prepared under
fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Text: 10% or 1000
Law and is restricted from further use. words
Poems: 250 words

Many materials are copyrighted even if Make no more than 2 copies In each of the cases listed above,
they haven’t been registered with the U.S. & do not put the you can use up to the amounts
Copyright office. If you want to use presentation on the internet.
You lose control over how it mentioned.
something that’s copyrighted, you have to
get permission OR use it under Fair Use. will be used by others.