Copyright Registration Lawyer — Helping Our Clients Safeguard Their Intellectual Property Rights

What do bloggers, painters, cinematographers, sculptors, and authors have in common? They’re all creators — as are countless others who create original works. If you fall into this category, it’s important that you protect your creations from those who may misuse them. A copyright registration lawyer can help you in this endeavor.

At Katie Charleston, PC, our team of intellectual property attorneys understands the importance of safeguarding your copyright. The first step in this process is to register your creations with the U.S. Copyright Office. Doing so grants a wide array of benefits, and with a legal advocate on your side, the process can be quick and easy.

Contact our copyright registration attorneys today to discuss your options.

What Creative Works Should You Copyright?

As a general rule, you should consider seeking copyright protection for all original creative works. This is the only way to garner full protection under federal law for your creations. Many people believe that simply putting a work into a tangible form (e.g., book, canvas, etc.) is enough to garner copyright protection. This is technically true, but it will not result in full protection. That’s why you should register any of the following creations:

• Literary works (e.g., books, poems)
• Visual works (e.g., photographs, paintings)
• Musical works (e.g., scores, songs)
• Computer programs and software
• Choreographic works (e.g., routines, dance performances)
• Architectural works (e.g., plans, building designs)

Essentially, any original creative work that has been fixed into a tangible form should be copyrighted. Of course, you don’t have to go this route if you so choose. However, failing to register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office will forfeit many of the available protections. Put simply, you only have to register the creative works that you actually want to protect.

What Are the Benefits of Copyright Registration?

There are various benefits to copyright registration. Amazingly enough, full registration is possible in as little as three months. The process can be a bit complicated at times, but that’s why many creators seek assistance from copyright registration lawyers. However you choose to protect your works, though, these are just a few of the benefits of federal registration:

• Grants exclusive rights to your work
• Creates a public record so infringers cannot claim ignorance
• Allows copyright owners to seek statutory damages and attorney fees from infringers
• Provides international protection thanks to trade agreements and treaties
• Adds legitimacy and value to your intellectual property

Clearly, the advantages of registering your work are many. The presumption of ownership alone is enough to motivate most creators. And while the process of registering intellectual property may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be when you have a legal advocate on your side. Contact Katie Charleston, PC, today for help protecting all your creative works.

What if Someone Violates Your Copyright Registration?

After registering your works with the U.S. Copyright Office, your creations have federal protection. If you notice that someone is using your work without your permission, it’s important to take action. Failure to police copyright infringement can actually reduce your standing to do so in the future. Fortunately, taking action isn’t always a difficult endeavor.

For instance, our law firm can send cease and desist orders and file DMCA takedown notices on your behalf. This is often a simple way to end infringing activities without the hassle of litigation. It may also be possible to reach a licensing agreement with third parties in order to profit from the use of your work. Of course, there are times when litigation will be the only answer.

The primary benefit of registration is that you now have options for protecting your works. At the law firm of Katie Charleston, PC, we can help you better understand these options and what might be your best recourse in a given situation.

Contact Our Copyright Registration Lawyers Today

Yes, simply creating an original work offers some level of copyright protections. However, it’s imperative that creators do not depend entirely upon this protection. Doing so removes many of the benefits of proper registration — including the ability to seek statutory damages in court. The loss of this and many other advantages necessitates the registration of any copyright you want to fully protect.

At Katie Charleston, PC, our law firm is committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of our clients. Creators work hard to produce original compositions, and when they do this, they should be able to decide how their works are used. With the help of a copyright registration lawyer, that’s exactly what you can do.

Contact us today by calling (317) 663-9190 to schedule your confidential consultation.