How do I determine the copyright status of a work?

In order to determine the copyright status of a work, one must consider the copyright laws of the state of Nebraska. According to the U.S. copyright law, all original works are automatically copyrighted and are the exclusive property of the author or creator. For original works that have not been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, they are still protected under law and the author is still the owner of the work. In order to determine if a work is in the public domain in Nebraska, one must consider the time when the work was created and the nature of the work. If a work was created before 1923, it is likely to be in the public domain and can be freely used without permission. If the work was created after 1923, one must consider how long ago it was created and if the Copyright Act of 1976 applies to the work. If the work was created after 1978, then its copyright will last for the life of the author plus 70 years. For works created by a company or organization, the copyright will last for 95 years from the date of publication or 120 years from the date of the creation, whichever is shorter. Ultimately, to be sure about the copyright status of a work, one should consult a qualified intellectual property attorney. The attorney can help determine whether the work is in the public domain or protected by copyright and advise on the best course of action.

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