Before Copyright

Details the development of the privilege system, a precursor to copyright, in early sixteenth-century French publishing.

Witnesses: Marsha Kessler & Fritz Attaway, Motion Pict. Assoc. of Amer.; Decker Anstrom, Nat. Cable TV Assoc.; Steven Cox, Sr. DIRECTV; James Goodman, Capitol Broad.; Wade Hargrove, Network Affil. Stations All.; William Hawkins, Starpath, KY; Charles Hewitt, Sat. Broad. & Comm. Assoc.; Tom Howe, PBS; Thomas Ostertag, Baseball Comm.; Marybeth Peters, Reg. of Copyrights; Peter Boylan, United Video Sat. Grp.; Thomas Casey, PrimeTime 24; Charles Ergen, EchoStar Comm.; Bob Phillips, Nat. Rural Tele. Coop.; Matthew Polka, Small Cable Bus. Assoc.; James Popham, Assoc. of Local TV Stat.; & William Sullivan, Nat. Assoc. of Broad.

Explains how to find and use creative works without permission or fees, describing how to recognize whether or not a work is in the public domain.

In this book, leading scholars analyze the important role played by copyright exceptions in economic and cultural productivity.

Detailed advice (and plenty of sample forms, worksheets and agreements) on everything from getting a business started to kicking out an unwanted partner later. - Los Angeles Times - It is the most definitive, complete and current do-it-yourself patent book ever written and it is written in easy-to-understand laymen's terms. - Mary Bellis, Inventor's Guide at About.com - Every step of the patent process is presented in order in this gem of a book, complete with official forms - San Francisco Chronicle - David Pressman is a practicing patent attorney, a former patent examiner, and the author of Patent It Yourself. His book is easy to understand and can save thousands of dollars by writing your own patent application, or by writing much of it, and having a patent agent or attorney edit and write the claims section. - Jack Lander, The Inventor's Bookstore - Like all law, [patent law] is pretty complex stuff. This clearly written guide will help minimize legal fees by preparing you to do what you can for yourself.- Mike Maza, Dallas Morning News - The book presents complicated procedures in easily digested chunks, with anecdotes, forms and plenty of old-fashioned good advice - The Denver Post - The most complete and authoritative work on patents and inventions for laypersons - InventNet - Contains all necessary forms and instructions plus advice on marketing your invention. - Money Magazine - The best roll-up-your-sleeves guide for filers who don't want to pay a ransom. - Inc.- Patent It Yourself is a top-notch reference for patent and trademark information. - San Francisco Examiner