Copyrights |

Public domain - not! When visiting a web site, it is so easy to click and save with a mouse button when one sees a graphic image that one likes, or to view the source code and copy part of or, all of the HTML coding because one "likes the way this or that was done" or one "wants a similar layout", or to copy original writings because "that person expresses this or that so well". The general (and incorrect) notion is that anything that is on the internet is public domain and may be taken without permission from the creator/owner. Some people actually think (incorrectly) that just because bits of web pages may be stored in one's cache, or because certain browsers allow one to do "file save as" moves or, anything similar, one may use such material as one wishes. This is false.

Just because your driveway is not inside of your house, is it in the public domain? Does that give anybody off the street the right to stay on your driveway without your permission, even if they can see it from the street, or easily access it?

The same basic principle applies to material published on the internet. Material found on the web may be copied freely only if the information is created by the (i) federal government, (ii) if the copyright has expired or (iii) the copyright has been abandoned by the holder. Therefore, "internet" and "public domain" are not synonymous. Any work published on the internet is not automatically placed it in the public domain, unless the material in question complies with one or more of the characteristics mentioned.

Copyright protects original works of authorship. The copyright holder has the exclusive rights to:

The copyright holder has additional exclusive rights regarding visual works, such as the right to:

COPYRIGHT RIGHTS: Unless permission is given in writing, it is understood that any images or text included herein may not be photographed or reproduced by any means including, electronic duplication. Artist, Onajide A. Shabaka reserves all rights to the work herein unless otherwise stated.

All parties given written rights to any work herein agree that there must be affixed to the work(s) of art or in close proximity a copyright notice, which shall include the copyright symbol, date and name of the Artist, and placed in a visible manner and location as to give "reasonable notice" of the Artist's copyright in the work(s). 

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