Sometimes, you just have to make copies of things. With the cost of printing color pages at home approaching $1.00 or more per page, it doesn’t always make sense to keep a copier in the house, which means it’s time to pay a visit to your local PostalAnnex. However, not all documents can be reproduced, so before you start making copies, ask yourself these four questions to make sure it’s ok to continue with your project.
1. “Is the content lawfully mine?”
Your own personal documents, like bank statements, travel documents, and medical records, can all be copied. When it comes to creative content like music, artwork, and writing, you can make copies as long as it’s your own original work.
2. “Is this part of the public domain?”
Under certain circumstances, works will become available for public use, and you do not have to get permission from the former copyright owner before making copies. It is recommended that you assume all work is copyrighted until you have proof it is not.
3. “Does the “Fair Use” rule apply?”
In some cases, the “Fair Use” rule will apply, and you can make limited use of another person’s work without his or her permission. Before duplicating someone else’s work, it’s a good idea to do extra research to find out if the “Fair Use” rule applies to your situation.
4. “Is this protected by copyright?”
If the work is not part of the public domain or the “Fair Use” rule does not apply, it is probably protected by copyright laws, and you will need to get written permission from the copyright owner to reproduce the work.
For more information about copyrights, visit www.copyright.gov.
The next time you find yourself in need of copying services, visit the PostalAnnex location nearest you! Whether you need to copy one page or complete a giant copy job, the professionals at PostalAnnex are ready to provide you with friendly, helpful and quick service.
Source: United States Copyright Office