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Copyright Law Explained

The Copyright Law Explained section of the website is intended to provide an easy to understand explanation of the major elements of U.S. copyright law. The intended audience is individual creators, small business owners, and members of the public looking for a basic understanding of U.S. copyright law. Consequently, Copyright Law Explained presents information at a very high-level and does not address all the complexities and nuances of the law. The information on these pages, like the information on the rest of the website, should be used solely for educational purposes as it does not constitute legal advice. We urge creators who are looking for more details or assistance to consult an attorney or a volunteer lawyer for the arts organization or law clinic for help; or, if you are a member of the Copyright Alliance, please contact us directly. If there are particular topics that we do not address here or in our FAQs section, please contact us and we will try to add the topic.

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