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It appears that even professors often overlook the legality of distributing copyrighted materials. Although it's no question that fair use applies to a small excerpt or one chapter of a book, the legality of distributing multiple chapters or an entire work is, what this article calls, "cheating a legitimate economic interest." Students might disagree based on the cost of textbooks and course readers, though from the standpoint of the publisher and author, if an academic intends to use an entire work, it should not be copied, but purchased as the entire original work.

As soon as the photograph is taken, Lady Gaga requests that the copyright is turned over to her. Unlike other artists, like Madonna or Radiohead, Gaga is limiting how photos of her performances are distributed. Is this demand justified and if so, does it exclude people who cannot afford to attend live performances?

Films by Hitchcock, books by Virginia Woolf and Picasso's Guernica--just to name a few--are some of the works that are no longer readily accessible to the public. In a new case, Golan v. Holder, orchestra conductors, teachers and film archivists, are fighting for the right to perform, adapt and distribute creative works that they relied on for years without having to consider copyrights and their respective fees. Should these famous works be returned to the public domain?

another good article from PC Magazine: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2384913,00.asp