Copyright Information

1. Question: WHAT DOES "COPYRIGHT" MEAN?
Answer: The United States copyright law, Title 17 United States Code Section 101, et seq., provides protection to authors of original works. This includes maps. It is unlawful for any firm or individual to reproduce copyrighted works, in whole or in part, without permission of the copyright owner.

2. Question: ARE ALL MAPS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT?
Answer: Yes. Essentially all maps (Except U.S. government publications) are subject to copyright. This is especially true of street maps, the vast majority of which are produced by private firms, and which are produced at great expense by private firms.

3. Question: HOW DO I KNOW IF A MAP IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT?
Answer: All commercially produced maps are covered by the copyright law. The name of the copyright holder and the word "copyright" or symbol "©" will usually be printed somewhere on the map. However, even if unauthorized copies (without copyright identification) are subsequently reproduced, copyright laws and penalties still apply.

4. Question: DOES THE COPYRIGHT LAW APPLY FOR EVERY USE?
Answer: Yes. Neither a business nor an individual may reproduce copy-righted maps in any quantity without permission of the copyright owner. Even a single copy may be considered a copyright violation when the intended use is commercial, whether for profit or not. Specific exceptions have been made for "fair-use" reproductions according to Section 107 of the copyright law.

5. Question: WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING COPYRIGHT?
Answer: The penalties allowed by law in copyright violations can be severe, and may include payment of any profits, damages, court costs and attorney fees. Anyone who infringes upon the exclusive protected rights of the copyright owner may be violating federal law, may be reported to federal investigative authorities and may be subject to civil and criminal penalties. Most copyright owners intend to enforce their exclusive rights to the fullest extent of the law.

6. Question: HOW MAY I LEGALLY REPRODUCE COPYRIGHTED MAPS?
Answer: You should request permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce a copyrighted map. Permission is usually granted by a written contract which specifies quantity, royalty fees, and various terms pertinent to the use of the map being reproduced.

7. Question: I AM A PRINTER. IF I REPRODUCE COPYRIGHTED MAPS FOR A CUSTOMER, WHO IS LIABLE?
Answer: You both are liable. The customer and the firm or individual who reproduces copyrighted materials without authorization can both be held liable for copyright violations.

8. Question: ARE ROYALTY FEES EXPENSIVE?
Answer: No. Such fees are based on reproduced quantities, area of map coverage, and detail of the particular map being used. In fact, such fees are quite low, considering the skill, time, and effort required to produce a detailed map.

9. Question: ONCE A COPYRIGHT CONTRACT IS GRANTED, HOW LONG IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Answer: A copyright contract gives permission for specific use and quantity over a particular time. The contract expires when the limited quantity is reached or on the expiration date indicated. Additional reprints will require renewed permission.

10. Question: WHOM DO I CONTACT TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE A MAP?
Answer: The owner of copyrighted maps.