This copyright information was compiled by the CSU Library Copyright Committee.
This guide offers information about copyright for the Cal State East Bay community. It is not intended for legal advice.
Except where otherwise noted, this guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
In the beginning, copyright law was intended to cover only books. During the 19th century, the law was expanded to include maps, charts, engravings, prints, musical compositions, dramatic works, photographs, paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Motion pictures, computer programs, sound recordings, dance, and architectural works became protected by copyright during the 20th century. Copyright protections fall under Title 17 of the United States Code and covers "original works of authorship." So what makes a work original?