Don't assume you have a copyright in a photo of a chip, even if you are the photographer. Not every photograph is an original work within the meaning of the statute.

Don't assume you can just make a simple modification and gain your own copyright in a derivative work. That issue was just accepted for review by the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday.

It is also to understand educational and other fair uses, even when valid copyrights exist. Not every use of a copyrighted work is punishable.

Just as briefs filed in courts are not a quarter-page long, it's hard to resolve complex legal issues in short chatroom posts.

Signed, a former copyright attorney