Stephen Fishman

Those looking for quick lists of public domain resources meant for casual perusal and quick consumption will be in for a pleasant surprise. This is not just a guide on where to find public domain materials such as music, photos, and literary works. You will find that information within, but you will find much, much more besides.

Stephen Fishman, an experience attorney in both government and private practice since 1979, provides all of the legal information that many readers might never have show more known they needed. Fishman goes into great detail about the history of public domain materials, the legalities of usage and ownership regarding such works, the loopholes to look for, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Other books from Nolo have successfully endeavored to communicate legal information to its readers in clear, simple language. The Public Domain achieves this goal as well, and will undoubtedly act as an indispensable reference to anyone seeking out legally obtainable works in the public domain. show less

The gods must have known I'd be needing this book! When I first snagged a free copy thanks to LibraryThing's Early Reviewer drawing, I was surprised and not exactly over-the-moon.... after all, at the time I was working a steady job for a small company, and didn't think I'd be needing its advice for a long while yet. BUT, not a week later, news came through that my job situation was changing and I would, from now on, be an independent contractor and proud member of the Self-Employed. show more Suddenly, this book was a life-saver, especially as Tax Day loomed.

This book is a wonderful resource for people who are self-employed, whether they work as independent contractors and consultants for clients, run a small business of their own, or work from home. Chapters cover everything from how to get started establishing your business, to insurance and contracts, from filing quarterly and annual taxes, to accounting and legal advice. It provides an excellent guide to the basics, so you don't have to know all the legal lingo or already be a tax expert to benefit - yet with its appendices and lists of further resources, it also gives you a comprehensive overview that can point you in the right direction when you do need that extra help.

I definitely recommend it for anyone who is even thinking about exploring the idea of self-employment. This book can definitely help you figure out if that's the right path for you, and if it is, how to make the law work for you. show less

This is the 11th edition of the standard work on copyright, the usual excellent Nolo treatment that makes a complex issue coherent. I particularly like the organization, beginning with the basic explanation of what copyright is and how it differs from trademark in U.S. law, through to how to notify violators of the specific nature of their offense. The included CD-ROM provides useful forms.

As a writer, I find the arguments against copyright to be spurious, and this book provides powerful show more ammunition to use against those who think creative work has no value other than to provide free amusement for those who are unable to create it for themselves. show less

Although this book is subtitled “What Every Writer Needs to Know”, this copyright handbook will be useful to anyone who has questions or needs information about copyright law. The clear explanations and numerous examples make this book a good starting point for non-specialists. The sample forms will help readers handle simple copyright matters on their own. Readers with more complex copyright problems will find information that will help them develop a strategy to address their problems, show more including who to contact (a copyright attorney, an organization, or an agency), what information to provide, and what questions to ask.

As a librarian, I've read works about copyright targeted specifically for librarians. This book allowed me to look at a familiar topic from a different perspective. It's a useful addition to a copyright reference collection, and it's a source I'll consult in the future whenever I deal with copyright issues.

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. show less