A license is a privilege entitling the licensee to do something that he would not be entitled to do without the license. To license or grant a license is to give permission. A license authorizes the holder to do something that he or she would not be entitled to do without the license.
A Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of "original works of authorship, "including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to do and to authorize others to do the following:
" To reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords;
" To prepare derivative works based upon the work;
" To distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;
" To perform the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
" To display the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and
" In the case of sound recordings*, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.
A Vermont license for the use of a copyright refers to the legal permission granted by the copyright owner to someone else for using their copyrighted material within the state of Vermont. This license ensures that the copyright owner retains their exclusive rights while allowing others to use their work in specific ways. In Vermont, there are different types of licenses available for the use of a copyright, tailored to different circumstances and purposes. These licenses include: 1. Non-exclusive License: A non-exclusive license grants permission to multiple parties to use the copyrighted material. This means that the copyright owner may grant licenses to multiple individuals or organizations simultaneously without exclusivity. 2. Exclusive License: An exclusive license grants sole permission to a specific party to use the copyrighted material, excluding all others, including the copyright owner. This type of license provides the licensee with exclusive rights to exploit the work in the manner specified in the agreement. 3. Commercial License: A commercial license allows the licensee to use the copyrighted material for commercial purposes, such as selling products or incorporating it into a commercial project. This license is typically obtained by businesses or individuals aiming to profit from the copyrighted work. 4. Creative Commons License: Although not specific to Vermont, a Creative Commons license is a popular type of open license used globally. It allows the copyright owner to grant certain permissions to the public while retaining some rights. Attribution (BY), share-alike (SA), non-commercial (NC), and no derivatives (ND) are common conditions under Creative Commons licenses. 5. Educational License: An educational license permits the use of copyrighted material for educational purposes, such as in classrooms, lectures, or research. This license is often granted to educational institutions, teachers, or students intending to utilize the copyrighted content for educational activities. It is important to note that exact terms and conditions of Vermont licenses for the use of a copyright may vary depending on the specific agreement or legal framework involved. To obtain a license or understand the scope of usage allowed, individuals or entities should consult with an intellectual property attorney or refer to the Vermont state copyright laws.
