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Statement of Intellectual Ownership
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| Han Translation Gifts owns all design materials contained within this shop for commercial sale. When such property is not of our own creation (such as a vintage photograph or clip art), it has been properly licensed (exclusive or non-exclusive) from an authorized source. We make considerable efforts to research and verify that our original or commissioned work does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Because our artwork originates from artists and resources in the United States, Japan, and China, we follow the copyright laws of the appropriate jurisdiction best suited to offer us the maximum amount of legal protection. Because there are differences in international law and their interpretation based on geographical location, we make this statement for the benefit of customers who are interested in our legal rights and ability to use certain materials (whether they be words, concepts, or images). Our partner, CafePress, is diligent about screening our designs and confirming that they comply with International Intellectual Property Codes. In many cases, the artwork we modify or use as inspiration for our designs are Public Domain or have no existing legal ownership. As such, we claim legal rights only on the reformatted design which we produce. When such claims are disputed, it is our goal to swiftly resolve any outstanding issues to the satisfaction of all parties. This statement is not made as an acknowledgment of any wrong doing, only that we abide by all IPR laws and take no action to intentionally violate them. In addition, we do not unfairly persecute others who we feel are in violation of our rights, giving them the benefit of the doubt when seeking a resolution. |
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Public Domain
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| The public domain comprises the body of knowledge and innovation (especially creative works such as writing, art, music, and inventions) in relation to which no person or other legal entity can establish or maintain proprietary interests. This body of information and creativity is considered to be part of the common cultural and intellectual heritage of humanity, which in general anyone may use or exploit. If an item is not in the public domain, this may be the result of a proprietary interest as represented by a copyright. However, when copyright or other intellectual property restrictions expire, works will enter the public domain and may be used by anyone. |
| No Legal Restriction On Use |
| A creative work is said to be in the public domain if there are no laws which restrict its use by the public at large. Works created before the application of intellectual property laws also form part of the public domain. The Bible and Qu'ran, the works of Homer and the inventions of Archimedes are in the public domain. However, intellectual property rights may subsist in translations or new formulations of these works. Works of the United States Government and various other governments are excluded from copyright law and may therefore be considered. |
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When Works Pass Into The Public Domain
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| Date of Work | Protected From | Term |
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| Created 1978 or after, in US, or registered by foreign author in US | When work is fixed in tangible medium of expression | Life +70 years (or, if work is of corporate authorship, the lesser of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation) |
| Created 1978 or after by author in Berne or WTO country, but not registered for US protection | When work is fixed in tangible medium of expression | The period of protection granted in author's country, but not to exceed the current statutory US limit (see above) |
| Published or registered in US prior to 1925 | Now in Public Domain | None |
| Created prior to 1925 by foreign composer and not otherwise "first published" in the US. | Now in Public Domain | None (see Note 3 below) |
| "first published" in US 1925 - 1963 (see Note 1 below) | When published with notice © | 95 years - unless was not timely renewed prior to completion of a 28 year initial term, now in public domain |
| "first published" in US 1964 -1977 (see Note 1 below) | When published with notice © | 95 years- periodic renewals not required for continued protection |
| Published in US 1925 - 1977. (see Note 1 below) | When published without notice, entered Public Domain automatically. | None (except certain works with valid foreign copyrights may still be protected, see below) |
| Work of foreign authorship created 1925 - 1977 not otherwise eligible for US registration because of the "first published" rule or published in US without permission. (Berne* or WTO countries only.) | January 1, 1996 (see Note 2 below) | The period of protection granted in author's country but not to exceed either life + 50 years or 75 years from creation. (see Note 2 below) |
| Work of foreign authorship created after 1924 in any non-Berne* or WTO country (i.e. pre-1992 Chinese works) | Public Domain | Note: rights could potentially be restored by future treaty. |
| Created before 1978 but never published, or registered before 1978 using a phonorecord as the evidence of publication. Author did not die prior to 1933. | January 1, 1978 | Life + 70 years or 12-31-2002, whichever is greater. |
| Author died before 1933, and work never published | Public Domain | None |
| Created before 1978 but first published between then and 12-31-2002 (Note 1) | January 1, 1978 | Life + 70 years or 12-31-2047, whichever is greater |
| Any work intentionally placed into the public domain by the author (must be documented) | Now in Public Domain | None |
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NOTE 1: Publication of music compositions means a printed and distributed score. Mere performance, even on a phonorecord does not constitute publication for any purpose. Pre-1978 registrations granted using a phonorecord as the evidence of publication are defective (however such compositions can be protected against future infringements by obtaining registration as an unpublished work if the original author did not die prior to 1933.)
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| NOTE 2: Rights previously granted for "arrangements" on the original compositions become infringing on January 1, 1996. When the rights restored to the original author finally expire, the arrangement registrations will be re-instated for their remaining term of protection, if any. |
| NOTE 3: Rights for EU composers are life plus 70 without US registration, but authors in other Berne countries have life plus 50, so they will benefit from US registration. |
| (*) Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886) |
