Public Domain Resources

• List of Material in the Public Domain: www.pdimages.com/pdlist.htm (how to get access to everything in the public domain)

• “The Mythology of the Public Domain: Exploring the Myths Behind Attacks on the Duration of Copyright Protection” by Scott M. Martin, senior vice president for Intellectual Property and Associate General Counsel, Paramount Pictures Corporation, published in The Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review (2002)

• Public Domain Images: www.pdimages.com (a website to assist you in identifying public domain videos)

• Public Domain Music: www.pdinfo.com (a website to assist you in identifying public domain songs, sheet music, and royalty-free music you can license)

• Stories and Characters That Have Had Their Copyright Expire: www.pdimages.com/stories.htm (a website to assist you in identifying public domain stories and characters)

U.S. Government Websites

• Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/copyright (official U.S. Copyright Office website, replete with FAQs, downloadable forms, and updated information)  — Copyright Office Basics:     www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#wwp

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: www.uspto.gov (official U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website) — USPTO Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual: http://tess2.uspto.gov/netahtml/tidm.html — USPTO Basic Facts: Trademark, Copyright, or Patent?: www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/trade_defin.htm — USPTO Keep a Trademark Registration FAQs: www.uspto.gov/web/trademarks/workflow/prfaq.htm — USPTO TEAS file online: www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html — USPTO TEAS Selection of Application Type: http://teasplus.uspto.gov/TeasPlus (for TEAS Plus requirements) — USPTO TEAS Tutorial: www.uspto.gov/teas/eTEAStutorial.htm — USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS): http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=tess&state=qod7ie.1.1

Appendix: Sample Forms, Contracts, and Letters

• Sample Assignment of Copyright Agreement

• Sample Work-Made-for-Hire Agreement

• Sample Certificate of Registration from the U.S. Copyright Office

• Forms TX, SR VA, PA, SE

• Sample Cover Letter to the Registrar of Copyrights

• Sample Permission Request Letter

• Sample Cease-and-Desist Letter for Copyright/Trademark Infringement

Sample Assignment of Copyright Agreement

This Assignment of Copyright Agreement is entered into on this ___ day of ____ 200__, between __________ (the "Assignee") and ________ ("Assignor"), regarding a work product commissioned by Assignee, produced by Assignor, and hereinafter known as the __________[name of work product] (the "Work").

It is understood that Assignor, the creator of the Work is the sole copyright owner of the Work, and therefore has the right and the authority to transfer all rights to another party. It is also understood that the Assignor desires to assign all interest in, and rights and title to the Work over to the Assignee.

Therefore on this day, for the fair and negotiated sum of $_________, the Assignor transfers to the Assignee all interest in, and rights and title to the Work, including but not limited to content, graphics and other visuals, music, photos, notes, design elements, final product, the master recording, and any other component deemed a part of the Work.

It is agreed that as a result of this transfer of all rights by the copyright holder, that he/she will have no further rights to or interest in the Work.