How can I tell if a work is protected by copyright?

In California, you can tell if a work is protected by copyright if it is an original work of authorship that has been written down or recorded in some way. This can include literary works, musical works, dramatic works, choreography, architecture, sound recordings, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works. Copyright protection is automatically given to works that meet these requirements and are created after January 1, 1978. The copyright symbol (©) will also typically appear on the work if it is protected under copyright law. If the work has been published, it will include a copyright notice, which will typically include the copyright symbol and the year of publication, as well as the name of the copyright owner. If the work is unpublished, the person who owns the copyright in the work will not be indicated. In some cases, the copyright may have expired if the copyright owner has not renewed the copyright within the required period. To determine if a copyright has expired, you will need to research the date the work was published and the duration of the copyright for that work. You can find this information by searching for the work online or contacting the copyright owner. If you are uncertain whether or not a work is protected by copyright, you can contact the copyright holder directly or consult with a lawyer who is familiar with copyright law.

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