Print this page Copyright Protection
Thomas Strong, P.L.S.
Course Outline
This course covers the importance of protecting maps and drawings by using copyright. It details each step the professional needs to take in order to copyright their drawings.
This course includes
a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding
of the course materials.
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Have a greater understanding of the benefits of copyrighting their material;
- Understand the steps involved in obtaining a copyright;
- Be familiar with the necessary elements of a copyright;
- Understand the different types of ownership;
- Understand the difference between employee and contractor;
- Learn the procedure to follow to copyright drawings;
- Learn the benefits of filing your copyright;
- Understand ownership of copyright;
- Be familiar with a work made for hire;
- Understand why you need a copyright;
- Be familiar with the duration of copyrights; and
- Understand what
the client owns when you give him a drawing.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for design professional and land surveyors
Benefit to Attendees
Attendee of this course will be able to effectively copyright their drawings, maps and other professional prepared products.
Course Introduction
More than most
professionals, surveyors and design professionals run the risk that their work
will be used for something other than was intended. This happens for example
when a plan drawn for title insurance purposes is later used as a base plan
for architectural design or a mortgage loan inspection plan is later used for
building fences along property lines, or architectural plans are copied and
distributed.
These problems may be alleviated by the use of a copyright.
What is copyright?
The United States Copyright Office defines copyright as " a form of protection
provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of original works of
authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other
intangible works."
In October 1976, President Ford signed into law the Federal Copyright Act of
1976, which can be found at Title 17, United States Code. The Copyright Act
provides copyright protection to original works of authorship fixed in any tangible
medium of expression from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise
communicated. Included among the several areas defined, as works of authorship
are pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works. It is under this category that
the Copyright Act protects maps and surveys.
The Copyright Act
gives exclusive right to the maker of the copyrighted document to reproduce
the document, prepare derivative works from the copyrighted document, distribute
copies of the document, and display the document publicly. Any one exercising
any of these exclusive rights, has infringed on the owner's copyright.
Course Content
The link to the course content is as follows:Copyright
Protection (PDF
file 49 KB)
You
need to open or download the above document to study this course.
Course Summary
Land Surveyors often overlook the possibility of adverse possession in their daily work. This oversight can be a dangerous way to practice, since adverse possession may be in effect on any given boundary line at any time. The surveyor needs to be on guard if he is to protect himself from unnecessary liability with respect to unwritten title conveyances.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
