A work that is created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or after January 1, 1978, is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a  term enduring for the author's life plus an additional 70 years after the author's death. In the case of "a joint work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire, "the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author's death. For works made for hire,
and for anonymous and pseudonymous works (unless the author's identity is revealed in Copyright Office records), the duration of copyright will be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

Source:  http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ1.html#hlc

"In order for the use of copyrighted information to be covered by the fair use clause, it should be held up to the following standards:

    1.  Is the purpose of the work commercial?
    2.  What is the nature of the work?
    3.  How much of the copyrighted work was used in relation to the whole work?
    4.  What is the effect of your use on the commercial value of the copyrighted material?"

Source:  Rhonda R. McClure, Ancestry Magazine dated January/February 200, Vol. 18, No.1, page 56-58

The 4 Golden Rules of Copyright

    o Materials older than 1923 are absolutely safe.

    o Relaying FACTS is OK (This does not mean copying)

    o If the use of material created by someone else diminishes the market value of that person's work, then the copyright has been violated.

    o Getting written (not email) permission from the author/publisher is the surest way to ensure that you are not violating copyright law.

Source:  http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.html#Golden Rules