Intellectual property basics

The document discusses intellectual property and copyright. It notes that all original creative works are automatically copyrighted upon creation. It describes what copyright gives the creator control over, including reproduction, derivatives, distribution, public performance, and digital transmission. The document outlines exceptions to copyright restrictions such as works in the public domain, fair use, Creative Commons, and GNU/Linux works. It provides guidance on determining what constitutes fair use based on factors like the purpose of the use, amount used, and commercial effects. The document also notes that modern authorship is often collaborative, distributed, and involves assembling preexisting information in new ways.