Copyright protection is a valuable tool for artists, architects, authors and others engaged in creating original works. Copyright provides the owner with a bundle of rights that generally include the right to reproduce, distribute, perform and display the work as well as the right to create derivative works.
Copyright protection is said to exist at the time an original work, embodying a minimal amount of creativity is fixed in tangible form. That is to say that copyright exists when the work is created. However, federal copyright registration confers a number of advantages that are important when enforcing your copyrighted works, the most notable being the ability to file a lawsuit for damages and the ability to pursue statutory damages. While copyright is said to exist at the moment of creation, you cannot sue someone for damages as a result of copyright infringement until or unless you register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Copyright protections may extend to a vast array of works, including but not limited to sculptures, photographs, sketches, books and novels, architectural design, choreography, video, sheet music, recorded musical performances, source code, movies, videos, plays and dramatic performances, web design, video games, etc.
The attorneys at the Humphries Law Firm have the experience necessary to assist you with all aspects of Copyright protection from initial registration to enforcement under the U.S. Copyright Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Contact us to schedule a consult to discuss your individual needs.