In 1662, books printed in England were registered with the Stationers' Company. Prior to that, there was no protection. However, reproducing others' works was significantly more difficult back in the day, so it wasn't terribly common; few people got the chance to see them much less copy them.
If it was not protected by copyright when it was created, and not published with notice before 1 March 1989, it is in the public domain and cannot be protected.
Yes, using a newspaper's masthead without permission may constitute copyright infringement, as the masthead is typically considered a creative work that is protected by copyright law. It is important to obtain permission from the newspaper before using their masthead.
A work is protected by copyright as soon as it is fixed in a tangible medium, i.e. even before it was published.
Not necessarily; works are protected by copyright as soon as they are fixed in a tangible medium, but they may not be published for years or even decades.
The copyright symbol © is used to demonstrate that a work is protected and permission must be sought before use by a third party.
Once the work is fixed in a tangible format, it is automatically protected by copyright; no additional action is required.
The copyright symbol © is used to demonstrate that an original work is protected and permission must be sought before use by a third party.
There are copyright violations going on right now--hundreds, if not thousands. The vast majority are settled long before they reach the public eye.
It depends on whether the work is still copyrighted, whether you have permission, and whether your particular use is exempt from copyright infringement. Copyright symbols have been completely optional as a requirement for copyright ownership for over 20 years, under US copyright law. You have the burden of making sure that the work is not copyrighted before you use it without obtaining a license, if one is necessary for your use.
No. Since 1989, when copyright law was amended to bring it into alignment with the Berne Copyright Convention, it is no longer necessary for a copyright symbol to be displayed to establish or maintain protection. Copyright exists from the moment you create an original work, and that can be something as simple as a photo of your child.
Signatories to the Berne Convention (which includes the United States) cannot require formalities. Before Berne, works were only protected if they were published with a copyright symbol and registered with the Copyright Office; since Berne, works are automatically protected as soon as they are "fixed." If you wish to use materials created by someone else, even if they are not marked, you need their permission.
"Maniac Magee" written by Jerry Spinelli is protected by copyright. The copyright for the book belongs to its author, Jerry Spinelli or his designated publisher. It is important to seek permission from the copyright holder before reproducing, distributing, or adapting any content from the book.