It is Easy to Copyright Your Work
Your copyright protections prevents anyone from reproducing or distributing your work without your express permission. Copyrights are usually associated within written work, but they can include dance routines, photos, sculptures, or architecture. The author of the work owns the copyright, and you own the work of any employee completed on your behalf by employees.
You do not have to put a copyright notice on your work, but it is recommended to give notice that you are asserting your ownership of the work. An exception for the use of copyrighted work is made for the purpose of criticism, news reporting, and teaching. Copyright protection lasts for the length of the author’s life plus 70 years.
You can register your copyrighted work with the United States Copyright Office by filling out a simple form and paying a $30 fee (The fee increases to $45 on July 1, 2006). The registration can be made on line at www.copyright.gov. You may want to register your work if you think someone may illegally use. If the copyright is registered and you prove that someone infringed, you can statutory damages of $15,000 and more.
Information on copyrights is available at the United States Copyright Office, and you can also check Nolo Press for information. Your copyright can be assigned or sold. If you have other questions about copyright, you should consult an intellectual property lawyer.
Copyright 2006. Indigo Business Solutions is a registered trade name.
The future of your business starts here.
|
About the author Jo Ann Joy is the CEO and owner of Indigo Business Solutions, a legal and business consulting firm. Indigo Business Solutions is a “one stop shop” for small businesses, because we offer both legal and business services. We can provide the professional services that a business requires, and they won’t have to be “referred out” and pay another professional. Jo Ann has a law degree, an MBA, and a degree in Economics, but she is not a traditional attorney. Rather, she is a strategic business attorney who works closely with clients to greatly improve their performance and chance of success. Her background includes commercial, corporate, contract and real estate law, and she has experience in accounting, financial planning, mortgages, marketing, product development, banking, and business planning and strategies. She ran a successful business for 10 years, and she has written and given presentations on many different legal and business subjects. If you want to achieve more with your business or you want free copies of my articles, please contact me. |
 |