common law copyright

A property right that arose when the work was created, rather than when it was published.

• Under the Copyright Act of 1976, which was effective on January 1, 1978, common-law copyright was largely abolished for works created after the statute’s effective date. But the statute retained the common law’s recognition that the property right arose when the work was created rather than when it was published. And the common-law copyright still applies in a few areas: notably, a common-law copyright received before January 1, 1978, remains entitled to protection.

— Also termed right of first publication.

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词条贡献者

法律翻译Howard，在一家顶尖的美国律师事务所担任专职法律翻译，专注翻译各类与信托与财产规划有关的法律文件。