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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Copyright Act of 1909
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A quick definition of Copyright Act of 1909:
The Copyright Act of 1909 was a law that protected people's creative work, like books and music. It made sure that the person who created something had the right to control how it was used and who could make money from it. The law said that the protection would last for 28 years, and could be renewed for another 28 years. The law also required that the creator put a special symbol on their work to show that it was protected. Even though a newer law was made in 1976, the Copyright Act of 1909 still affects some things today.
A more thorough explanation:
The Copyright Act of 1909 was a law in the United States that changed how copyright worked. It made copyright last for 28 years (which could be renewed for another 28 years), instead of just 14 years. It also said that copyright started when a work was published, not when it was registered with the Copyright Office. This law applied to all kinds of writing, not just books.
To get a copyright, people had to follow certain rules, like putting a copyright symbol on their work. This law was in effect from 1909 to 1977, when a new law replaced it. But some things that happened before 1978 still follow the old law.
For example, if someone wrote a book in 1960 and it was published in 1961, the copyright would last for 28 years from 1961. If the author renewed the copyright, it would last for another 28 years, until 2017. This law also affected other things that copyright owners could do with their work, like making copies or selling it.