Copyright for Dummies

There is a difference between illegal and unauthorized. Don't let anybody tell you different.

Update: So in the comments, Daniel asked for some more information on my cryptic post. I knew that I couldn't explain it as well as an IP lawyer. So I asked my buddy Fred to help me out.

Q. All illegal uses are unauthorized, but not all unauthorized uses are illegal?

A. I think so, altho I could probably come up with a wacky hypothetical where even an authorized use would violate the law (if the authorizing party didn't have all the rights for example).

Q. But then that begs the questions, what would be unauthorized, yet still legal?

A. Oh, lots and lots. All fair uses are unauthorized, but legal (like making mp3 copies of CDs you buy and putting them on your own iPod). Copies made by libraries for inter-library loan are unauthorized, yet legal. Transmissions of network TV signals on cable TV are often unauthorized, yet legal under a compulsory license. Etc.

So, there it is. In fact, posting these answers from Fred's email, which is a copyrighted work of his, is probably an unauthorized use. But again, I'm not a lawyer, I just hang out with them.