U.S. Copyright Act: Title 17 of the United States Code, the fundamental federal copyright law that protects original works of authorship, including photographs, and establishes the basic framework for copyright protection
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA): Federal law addressing copyright issues in digital media, including provisions for takedown notices and protection against circumvention of technical protection measures
Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA): Federal law providing moral rights to creators of visual arts, including certain photographs, protecting the right of attribution and integrity
Copyright Duration: Legal provision establishing copyright term as life of the author plus 70 years for individual works
Fair Use Doctrine: Legal principle allowing limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research
Work-for-Hire Provisions: Legal framework determining copyright ownership when photographs are created as part of employment or specially commissioned works
Rights of Reproduction and Distribution: Exclusive rights granted to copyright holders to control the reproduction and distribution of their photographic works
Berne Convention: International treaty governing copyright protection across member countries, establishing minimum standards for copyright protection
WIPO Copyright Treaty: International treaty addressing copyright protection in the digital environment, particularly relevant for online distribution of photographs
Digital Rights Management: Technical and legal measures for protecting and managing digital photographs, including metadata and watermarking considerations
Social Media Usage Rights: Specific considerations for protecting photographs shared on social media platforms and defining permitted uses
Creative Commons Licensing: Alternative licensing framework allowing photographers to specify permitted uses of their works while retaining copyright
