Computer Multimedia Copyright Protection

The current exponential growth of multimedia precipitates a need for a study to help people understand the relationship between multimedia and copyright. It is very important for one as a multimedia developer or publisher not to infringe copyrights owned by others. ? Multimedia works are created by combining ontent??music, text, graphics, illustrations, photographs, software ?that is protected under copyright law. Developers and publishers must avoid infringing copyrights owned by others. ? Original multimedia works are protected by copyright. The Copyright Act exclusive rights provision gives developers and publishers the right to control unauthorized exploitation of their works. I will analyze the right and restriction when people develop, publish and use multimedia. As a result, a centralization ntrol organization can manage the authorization of the original multimedia works, give a method for multimedia developers and publishers to obtain legal material. I will discuss the contradiction between traditions works and digitization works. It give rise to be the cause of the problem about the right of multimedia, say, reproduction right, modification right, distribution right etc. For example: Developer scanned photographer copyrighted photograph, altered the image by using digital editing software, and included the altered version of the photograph in a multimedia work that Developer sold to consumers. If Developer used Photographer photograph without permission, Developer infringed Photographer copyright by violating the reproduction right (scanning the photograph), the modification right (altering the photograph), and the distribution right (selling the altered photograph in his work). Finally, I will discuss new Copyright Law of China and give some suggestion in the area of the digitization. I think it is a meaning work for one who study law like me.