When it comes to copyright law, not knowing the rules can get you in a lot of hot water, but figuring out the rules can be just as frustrating. Luckily, the American Library Association has created a simple tool that tells you whether or not you need to hunt down a rights owner to use a book, movie, song, or other work in a project. The surprising part? Often times, you don't—not if the work was made before a certain year, and if the author didn't follow through. Quick tip: Feel free to go nuts on anything published before 1923.
Digital Copyright Slider [American Library Association via Ars Technica]
