Copyright Information

©

What does this mean?
Important Information about Copyright Laws

What is Copyright? Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of "original works of authorship" that are fixed in a tangible form of expression. The fixation need not be directly perceptible so long as it may be communicated with the aid of a machine or device. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to do and to authorize others to do the following:

* Reproduce (including scanning into your computer for any reason or use)

* Change from original form

* Distribute Copies

* Display Publicly (including use on a web site)

This is not a complete list, however, it is a list of the most common offenses when dealing with copyright issues.

Ownership of a book, manuscript, painting, photograph or any other copy of photorecord does not give the possessor the copyright. The law provides that transfer of ownership of any material object that embodies a protected work does not of itself convey any rights in the copyright. In other words, if you buy a picture, you do not own the copyright to that picture, the photographer does, and as such, you may not reproduce that picture in any way, shape, or form.

How is a Copyright Secured? The way in which copyright protection is secured is frequently misunderstood. No publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure Copyright. Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, and a work is created when it is fixed in a copy of photorecord for the first time. "Copies" are material objects from which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or when the aid of a machine or device, such as books, manuscripts, film, videotape, or microfilm is used.

Museums and non-profit organizations may obtain digital images free of charge upon request. Such requests must originate from marketing or public relations representatives. Please provide: contact name, title, mailing address and telephone number as well as 501(c)(3) non-profit information. If the images are to be used on a web site or in print, credit as to source must be given in addition to a link to this web site.

Print media editors are requested to contact the Gallary Mint Museum Foundation via e-mail or by mail to obtain a letter of request for references, images and contractual information.

Gallery Mint Museum Foundation
Mike Ellis
POB 101
Eureka Springs, AR 72632

telephone 888-558-MINT
fax 479-253-5056
e-mail gmmmike@arkansas.net

For further information please see the U.S. Copyright Office