Find answers to frequently asked questions about copyrights.

Are all creative works protected by copyright?

No. Not all creative works are protected by copyright. There are many exceptions to and limits on copyright protection. For example, copyright only protects creative works for limited periods of time. After the period of protection expires, the copyrighted work enters the public domain. If a work is in the public domain, the work may be freely used without permission from the creator of the work. However, just because a work is available online does not mean it’s in the public domain or free to use.

What about “fair use”?

The copyright laws of many countries have specific exceptions and limitations to copyright protection. For example, in the United States, “fair use” allows you to use a copyrighted work without permission in certain circumstances (e.g., a book review that includes some of the book being reviewed). 

What happens if I upload copyrighted materials to a MeticuLaw site or service without permission from the copyright owner?

It depends; sometimes it is fine to upload copyrighted materials to MeticuLaw’s websites without seeking permission from the copyright owner.  We are generally required by law to disable access to copyrighted content (including videos, music, photographs, or other content you upload onto a MeticuLaw website) if the copyright holder claims that the use of the copyrighted work is infringing. Note that if you repeatedly use your MeticuLaw account to infringe, we may terminate your account. Please respect other people’s copyrights.

How can I find content to use?

Some content available online, such as public domain content, is free to use because it is not subject to copyright protection. Other content might be subject to copyright, but the copyright holder licenses content with certain restrictions, such as under the Creative Commons license. Other copyrighted content may be used without permission because a limitation or exception to copyright applies (e.g. fair use).

Of course, some online content is not free to use, is not licensed by the copyright holder, and your use will not qualify as fair use. We cannot provide specific guidance regarding the use of particular content. 

Do I have to disclose where I got content from?

It depends, but it is generally a good practice to credit the original creator of the content. You should carefully review any license requirements for any content you plan to use prior to using any content.

Do I own what I create using AI tools?

AI tools have the power to make knowledge more accessible and useful to more people than ever before. These tools empower businesses and individuals to do more with their written works and their specific industry knowledge, expertise, common practices, and procedures. MeticuLaw makes generative AI tools available in accordance with the principles outlined at Responsible AI Standards.  MeticuLaw does not claim ownership of the output generated by such AI tools.