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Copyfraud refers to false copyright claims by individuals or institutions with respect to content that is in the public domain. Such claims are wrongful because material that is not copyrighted is free for all to use, modify and reproduce. Copyfraud also includes overreaching claims by publishers and others, as where a legitimate copyright owner knowingly, or with constructive knowledge, claims rights beyond what the law allows. The term "copyfraud" was coined by Jason Mazzone, a Professor of Law at the University of Illinois.〔("Jason Mazzone, Professor, Lynn H. Murray Faculty Scholar in Law" ), University of Illinois College of Law, accessed June 17, 2015〕 Because copyfraud carries little or no oversight by authorities and few legal consequences, it exists on a massive scale, with millions of works in the public domain falsely labelled as copyrighted. Payments are therefore unnecessarily made by businesses and individuals for licensing fees. Mazzone states that copyfraud stifles valid reproduction of free material, discourages innovation and undermines free speech rights.〔Mazzone, Jason. "Too Quick to Copyright", ''Legal Times'', volume 26, no. 46〕 Other legal scholars have suggested public and private remedies, and a few cases have been brought involving copyfraud. ==Definition== Mazzone describes copyfraud as: * Claiming copyright ownership of public domain material.〔 * Imposition by a copyright owner of restrictions beyond what the law allows.〔 * Claiming copyright ownership on the basis of ownership of copies or archives.〔 * Attaching copyright notices to a public domain work converted to a different medium.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「copyfraud」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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