Corporate Vice President & CFO, Northrop Grumman
Search every verified Kenneth Crews interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Kenneth Crews, an attorney with Gipson Hoffman & Pancione, discussed copyright law in a 2018 interview. He stated that copyright is "instant and automatic" upon creation and that authors are copyright owners from that moment. Crews advised authors to negotiate publishing contracts, noting that publishers often have alternative agreements for those who request modifications. He also said that fair use is "the best thing for librarians and their users" and that courts have been extending fair use to different types of works, including visual images. Crews cited the Georgia State e-reserves case as clarifying that old word-count guidelines for fair use can be set aside in favor of focusing on the four fair use factors. Crews commented on the role of library copyright officers, saying they face pressure to act as university legal counsel but should instead focus on educating faculty to make their own decisions. He predicted that future copyright law will be increasingly shaped by international agreements and negotiated consortia agreements, with Congress relying on stakeholders to draft licensing provisions. Crews encouraged library copyright officers to become negotiators and get involved in legislative discussions to ensure library interests are represented.
“Authors I work with need to recognize that they are copyright owners and have the power to say yes or no to publishing and to negotiate terms, including holding back specific rights for future use like republishing or posting on a website.”
“Don't hesitate to ask publishers for specific rights or changes in contracts; publishers often have 'secret contract plan B' agreements for authors who request modifications, and the worst answer is usually just a no.”
“Copyright today is instant and automatic; you are a copyright owner from the moment you create a work, even if you never register it or do anything formal.”
“There is better protection under US law for foreign works than for domestic works, including restoration of foreign works that went into the public domain and different registration requirements before filing lawsuits.”
“Fair use is the best thing for librarians and their users, supported by statutory exceptions like section 108, which, while limited, allows libraries to make certain uses of copyrighted works for preservation and research.”
“The Georgia State e-reserves case clarifies that old word-count guidelines for fair use can be set aside; institutions should focus on the four fair use factors, especially favoring nonprofit educational purposes.”
“Courts are adapting fair use law to new realities, including allowing full use of works in contexts like commercial financial advisory recordings, recognizing strong public interest.”
“Authors need to keep copies of all publishing agreements and correspondence permanently, as copyright lasts for life plus 70 years, to manage rights effectively over time.”
“Future copyright law will increasingly be shaped by international agreements and negotiated consortia agreements, with Congress relying more on stakeholders to draft complex licensing provisions.”
“Library copyright officers must become negotiators and get involved in legislative and licensing discussions to ensure library interests are represented, as future laws will resemble negotiated industry agreements.”
Ken Crews, Attorney for Gipson Hoffman & Pancione, talks at length with humor and experienced insight about copyright law in ...
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