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Common Questions Regarding Citation and Copyright

If I know a fact already, is it necessary to find something to substantiate it with a citation? Let's look at some examples. The American Civil War began in 1861. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. 3 x 3 = 9. These things can be considered common knowledge and do not need verification from outside sources.

If it's on the Internet or the Web, is it considered published, even though it's not copyrighted?

YES

NO

What does it mean if something is in the public domain? It means that the work belongs to everyone and no one, or that the copyright has expired. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare web site is a case in point.

If something is in the public domain, do I still have to cite my source?

YES

NO

Test yourself on your rights to use published material by reading this article, Ten Big Myths about Copyright Explained.

In case you're a writer, an artist or musician who needs to know the law, check out the United States Copyright Office web site, for the motherload of information on copyright. You can skip this site unless you need all the information you can get on copyright.

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