Public Display Right

Definition

The public display right is a copyright holder's exclusive right to display their copyrighted work publicly. This right allows the copyright owner to control the ways in which their work is presented to the public, ensuring they can derive economic benefit from their creation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The public display right applies to visual works, such as paintings, photographs, and sculptures, as well as certain digital displays of copyrighted content.
2. Copyright holders can authorize or prohibit the public display of their work, allowing them to control how their creation is presented and commercialized.
3. Exceptions to the public display right, such as fair use, allow for limited public display of copyrighted works without the copyright holder's permission.
4. The duration of the public display right is generally the same as the copyright term, which in the United States is the life of the author plus 70 years.
5. Infringement of the public display right can result in legal action and potential damages for the copyright holder.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and significance of the public display right within the context of copyright law.
  • The public display right is a crucial component of copyright law, as it allows copyright holders to control the ways in which their creative works are presented to the public. This right ensures that copyright owners can derive economic benefit from their creations by authorizing or prohibiting the public exhibition of their works. The public display right helps maintain the balance between the public's access to copyrighted content and the copyright holder's ability to commercialize their work, which is a fundamental principle of copyright law.
• Describe the types of copyrighted works that are subject to the public display right and the exceptions that may apply.
  • The public display right applies to a wide range of visual works, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and certain digital displays of copyrighted content. While copyright holders generally have the exclusive right to control the public display of their works, there are exceptions, such as fair use, that allow for limited public display without the copyright holder's permission. These exceptions are designed to balance the interests of copyright holders and the public's access to copyrighted material for purposes like education, research, and commentary.
• Analyze the relationship between the public display right and the overall duration of copyright protection, and discuss the potential implications for the public's access to copyrighted works over time.
  • The public display right is typically coextensive with the overall duration of copyright protection, which in the United States is the life of the author plus 70 years. This means that copyright holders can control the public display of their works for an extended period, limiting the public's ability to freely access and use these creations. As copyrighted works eventually enter the public domain, the public display right expires, allowing for greater public access and use of the works. This balance between the copyright holder's exclusive rights and the public's access to cultural and creative works is a fundamental tension in copyright law, with implications for the dissemination of knowledge and the overall cultural landscape.

Related terms

Copyright: The exclusive legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to publish, produce, sell, or distribute their work.

Public Performance Right: The copyright holder's exclusive right to perform their work publicly, such as staging a play or broadcasting a song.

Display: The act of exhibiting a copyrighted work, such as a painting, sculpture, or computer program, in such a way that it can be seen by the public.