Must Know Copyright Basics for Authors

Copyright law is the foundation for authors’ ability to get paid for their work. Your copyright is perhaps your most valuable asset as a working writer, so it behooves all writers to understand the ins and outs.

Learn the essentials of copyright that authors should know in this webinar with Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger, chief legal officer Kevin Amer, and staff attorney Kyle Maxey. We will cover:

• The basics of U.S. copyright law
• Registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office
• The importance of retaining copyright ownership of your work
• Getting your rights back when a book is out of print
• What constitutes fair use
• Permissions
• Copyrightability of AI-generated and AI-assisted texts and image

Panelists

Kevin Amer is Chief Legal Officer of the Authors Guild. He previously served in senior roles at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the U.S. Copyright Office. As the director of the copyright policy team at the USPTO, Amer led a team of attorneys and staff, providing expert advice on domestic and international copyright. He holds a JD from Yale Law School and an AB in history and literature from Harvard University.

Kyle Maxey is a Staff Attorney at the Authors Guild. He studied law at George Mason University, and political science, history, and business administration at Mount St. Mary’s University.

Mary Rasenberger is the CEO of the Authors Guild and Authors Guild Foundation. Prior to joining the Guild in November 2014, Mary practiced law for over 25 years in roles that spanned private practice, the government and corporate sector, as a recognized expert in copyright and media law. Photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan.