What Services can Copyright Lawyers Assist Me With?
Copyright law has become increasingly important in today’s digital age. With the explosion of social media and the relative ease at which anyone can share content at the press of a button, copyright lawyers have found that their services are needed more than ever.
Copyright Registration
Many people do not understand the process of copyright registration. Simply using the © symbol does not mean that the copyright is registered. To be a registered copyright in the United States, you need to register your copyright with the United States Copyright Office.
Benefits of Copyright Registration
There are many benefits to copyright registration. First, it provides a federal public record of the copyright holder’s claim. Second, it allows copyright owners to sue over copyright infringement in federal court. Within certain frameworks of time, copyright owners with proper registrations can seek statutory damages and attorney’s fees in federal court. Without registration, only actual damages and profits can be pursued. This is significant because generally, most plaintiffs find proving actual damages and profits for alleged infringement more difficult of a task. Copyrights that are properly registered can also be registered with United States Customs in order to deter the importation of copyright-infringing goods. These are just a few of the benefits of federal copyright protection.
Copyright Lawyers – Why Should I Use One?
Copyright lawyers can assist with advice on the type of registration to pursue and can help answer examiner questions through the registration process. Choosing the proper medium to register under, as well as properly attributing authorship of a copyright can be confusing. And, many things aren’t copyrightable. A copyright lawyer can save time and money in the long run by helping the applicant ensure any needed assignments are secured and in place as well as to help file the copyright application properly from the beginning.
Additionally, if copyright infringement litigation is initiated, a copyright lawyer can help advise and ensure that your needs are met and that your rights are protected.
Lastly, copyright lawyers can help you in the speedy removal and takedown of infringing use of your copyrights online. With the proliferation of social media sharing, copyrighted content can spread virally with the click of a button. Copyright lawyers are well-versed in copyright laws and can speedily work towards the take down of potentially infringing content.