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. The copyright of the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who creates the work. Only the author or those deriving their rights through the author can rightfully reproduce or claim copyright. No publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure copyright. The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U.S. law. It is illegal for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by the copyright law to the owner of the copyright.

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