Copyright  Tags: copyright compliance publishers fairuse fair dealing  

The beginning of copyright can traced variously to Rome and the Vatican, to Great Britain's Glorious Revolution,  and to the United States Constitution. Originally designed to promote industry and innovation, copyright has evolved to serve many masters with conflicting goals. Copyright interpretations vary throughout the world but in the last few decades international conventions have been adopted to help clarify the concepts of copyright and fair use. Oversight for these conventions is through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This guide includes links to sites that will introduce the reader to Copyright and Fair Use as well as tools to help determine appropriate use of intellectual property covered by copyright.