Home > Legal > Intellectual Property > Copyrights


Featured Vendors

Holly Ocasio Rizzo

Guide to Copyrights

Protect your work by registering; protect your use by asking permission


Highly
Useful
7.0
out of 10

Add Your Comments
 
 
Email Guide to Copyrights to a friend
Save the Guide to Copyrights to My Work.com Favorites
Print the Guide to Copyrights
link to this page
Save to del.icio.us
digg it!


Copyright is legal protection against copying or commercially exploiting intellectual property without the creator or the copyright holder's permission. It isn't only for literature and works of art — software, photography, music, video, film and architectural drawings can also be copyrighted.

To protect yourself — whether you're the creator or user — you'll need a three-part approach:

  1. For concrete copyright protection, register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office.
  2. Employees who create a work on the job or independent contractors creating work qualifying as "work for hire" do not own copyright; the employer does.
  3. Copyright gives the owner exclusive rights to copy and distribute the work, to create adaptations of it, and to perform or display it; all others must ask permission.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get the copyright lowdown


Whether you want to copyright your work or use somebody else's, you need to know the rules. Many business owners are what a copyright really is, who can claim copyright, how to properly secure a copyright and other key issues.

I recommend: The free online guide to Copyright Basics from the U.S. Copyright Office has answers to all common copyright questions. The basic copyright registration fee is $45.

Know whether it's protected


Check the copyright status of intellectual works, and look for name changes and transfers of ownership.

I recommend: The U.S. Copyright Office offers three copyright-search databases dating back to 1978.

Step-by-step registration procedures


Copyright registration is a legal formality that establishes a public record of the basic facts of your copyright.

I recommend: While registration is not required for you to own a copyright, the law offers several advantages to encourage copyright owners to register. The Copyright Office has complete registration details for different types of works.

Ask before using


A letter asking permission to use copyrighted material can be short and sweet, but it must cover certain basics about how the work will be used.

I recommend: A one-page sample request to use copyrighted material is available at U.S. Legal Forms.

Give permission to others


Make sure you put in writing all the details — payment, restrictions on location, defined use, credit given, purpose and more — when someone wants to use your copyrighted work.

I recommend: Juris Documents provides a form for an agreement to use copyrighted material.

Notify unauthorized users


Let someone know when they've used your work without permission — that's why you registered copyright in the first place.

I recommend: Find a notice of infringement form at AllBusiness.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Copyrights don't protect names, phrases, slogan or logos — for this, you'll need to conduct a trademark search and register a trademark.
  • Violations of copyright often involve use for commercial gain.
  • The copyright owner may request a fee, especially if the work will be used for commercial purposes.
  • Beware of the "fair use" rule of copyright; its provisions are limited.
  • Works in the public domain require no permission before use.

The official source of Copyrights is the Copyright Law page at Business.com


Featured Vendors

Copyright your Work Online
Protect your Original Work in 3 Easy Steps. Affordable, Reliable and Professionaly Prepared. As Seen in CNN and The New York Times.
www.LegalZoom.com/Copyrights

Sign up for the What Works for Business weekly e-newsletter!
 Related Resources from Business.com Back to top 
 Recommended Solution Providers Back to top 

Learn about copyrights.

Focuses on copyright registration services.

Register your copyright.

Provides copyright registration services.

Focuses on rights management services.


 Best Sites to Learn MoreBack to top 

Focuses on basic copyright issues for novices.

Features a quick reference guide for copyright information.

Learn what a copyright protects.

Provides basic information about copyrights.

FAQs about copyrights.

Explains copyright protection.

Learn how to register a copyright.

Provides links to copyright information.

FAQs about copyrights.


  Best Blogs and Forums Back to top 

Discussions about copyright issues.

Learn about copyrights from lawyers.

Discuss copyright issues with others.

Ask lawyers questions about intellectual property issues.

Blogs about copyright.

Focuses on copyright news and issues.

Articles about copyright issues.

Features articles on copyright law.

Articles and news on intellectual property. Select the copyright category.

Tips for avoiding copyright infringement.

Dedicated to the intellectual property needs of individuals and small to medium sized companies.


  CommentsBack to top 

Loading Comments...


Add Your Comments


Email Guide to Copyrights to a friend
Save the Guide to Copyrights to My Work.com Favorites
Print the Guide to Copyrights
link to this page
Save to del.icio.us
digg it!


Is any content on this page inappropriate? To let us know, please click here.



© 2009 Work.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Work.com is a property of Business.com.
Help | About Us | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Community Policy | Taskonomy | Advertise | Contact Us | Local Business Directory | Work.com Feed