‘New’ ideas are built on top of what already exists.
Artists, authors, designers, and engineers may look like they are alone when they are working, but every creative knows that the things they produce are aggregates— with their own personal flair mixed in.
Like the famous Sagrada Familia it has taken five generations of builders to bring Antoni Gaudi’s grand vision to light. 
In the internet age, creatives turn to the worldwide web for inspiration— be it for photography, soundtracks or clip art.
Too many people believe that everything online is free. It’s not.
If you use media without proper licensing or permission, you could face a copyright infringement lawsuit, or get flagged on YouTube for improper use.
As a creative, it is important to understand how copyright works, what is protected, and when something is available for free use.
Copyright laws, in general, protect a creation from being copied for the life of the artist, plus 70 years. After that, the piece enters the Public Domain. (SBTEA)
Public Domain works are 100% free for private and commercial use and do not require attribution.
Lawrence Lessig’s lectures and books help artists safely navigate the muddy waters of fair use. He is largely responsible for establishing an ever-growing community of photographers, artists, illustrators, videographers and musicians who support creativity by contributing current work to the Public Domain.
Copyright Law recommended reading.
Click here for Lisa’s extensive collection of public domain images, music, sound, and video clips.
Independent Author 