THINGS U SHOULD KNOW PART (1): What is copyright ?

Im surprised at how many people shoot ,and some of them for a long time now , and arent aware of some very important issues in direct relation to their work or hobby . So i thought its fair that all of u , whether amateurs or beggining pros , start knowing some of ur rights and limitations as a photographer from the legal angle....So im starting a series called THINGS U SHOULD KNOW.... and it shalll address such issues, God willing.....


What is copyright?
In a nutshell, copyright is the legal concept that once an original expression of a creative process is fixed in a physical medium, like a photograph on film, music on a recording, a painting on canvas, etc. , then that expression belongs to the creator who has the exclusive right to control and authorize its reproduction, distribution, public display, or performance. Copyright is the single greatest protection that any creator of intellectual property has at their disposal. It is what allows us to control the use of, and to profit from, the fruits of our creative efforts and to enforce certain claims against even much larger corporations. Copyright is not intended to stifle the sharing of information, merely to guarantee that the creators of that information have a right to make a decent living. There are plenty of exceptions to copyright protection written into the laws which guarantee the free exchange of information for research, news, teaching, satire, and other legitimate intellectual and political pursuits.
Articles, photographs, and music on the internet and in other digital formats are all covered by the same copyright protections as more traditional printed, displayed, or performed creative works. Now that the Web has become an open worldwide marketplace, it needs to be moderated by the same controls that guide commerce and advertising in other venues. In a free market economy, the right to buy and sell goods lies with the owners of those goods, not just anyone who happens to find them lying around. For example, when you walk by a grocery store with displays of goods both inside and outside, you know that the outside displays are there to attract your attention with the implication that you should come inside and buy something. They are not implying that you may just take an apple and walk away– that would be stealing. Likewise, by posting copyrighted information on the Web, we are putting it out there with the intention of it being looked at and perhaps purchased, but not stolen.
For many interesting links to websites covering questions, explanations, and legal opinions regarding copyright, see the EP website at: www.editorialphoto.com/copyright . For a more complete explanation of copyright, be sure to read Michael Grecco's three-part "Copyright Primer", available at the above URL.