Understanding Copyright Law, Fair Use, Plagiarism, and Public Domain in Writing and Composition within the United States by Robert Alan King is a booklet with over 4,600 words. Before writing or composing any type of work for publication, it is crucial to first have a thorough understanding about copyright protection, fair use, plagiarism, and the public domain. Without this knowledge, you can easily subject yourself to legal problems not to mention causing serious complications and/or embarrassment. Ignorance of the law will not protect you from the financial loss you might incur if you infringe on the rights of somebody else no matter how innocent your intentions.King will take a close look at United States copyright law and explain how it works and what is copyrighted. Though fair use and plagiarism are broadly defined and it is sometimes difficult to determine when a line has been crossed, he will provide you with a good understanding so you can write with a sound and logical guide to help you avoid violating copyright laws or experiencing embarrassing situations. The book will also discuss public domain and your rights to freely use this material. In addition, King will briefly touch on the fair use of photos, images and artwork, as well as explore your freedom to use those that are now in the public domain for book covers and illustrations.