Copyrighting your Artwork

[KATT]

Hi all. Me again with more questions. Does anyone where I should start with finding out how to copyright my work? Do I just print copyright and my name on it, or do I need to go through some process to do that? Thanks. =o)

[Paul C]

What are you trying to copyrite? A logo - a font, etc…

You need to establish a creation date for one thing. Send yourself a first class letter with a CD in it and never open it. This isn't legally bulletproof at all but it does establish a creation date and will give a lawyer something it if ever, God forbid, gets to that point.

Are you sure you aren't overthinking this?

If it's a company name then a DBA will do the trick.

Let us know some more information and someone here is bound to have some ideas…

peace

[KATT]

Hi Paul C:
I am starting a Graphic Design home business and I was wondering about copyrighting anything I created - images, logos, photos, stuff on websites, whatever it may be. :)

[Paul C]

To copyrite a logo is very difficult. You would have to hire someone to do a search, prove that your design is unique, it's really not something that a person with a small business wants to get into.

Obviously large corporations do this, but is still doesn't stop things happening like what just happened to Quark.

That's why I asked if you were perhaps overthinking this.

My attitude is that is someone copies me, it's a form of compliment. And if it's a particularly egregious case, just the fact that my piece was published (web or print) on a certain date is going to be something to stand on legally.

The other point is that the person copying you is doing so because they are incapable of doing the work themselves, whereas you are. After a while you will have done so many pieces that you won't remember them all anyway.

peace

[KATT]

Thank you Paul C. That makes a lot of sense.

Rosa
=o)

[grnofslt]

There is a book entitled "The Copyright Guide" by Lee Wilson who is an attorney with expertise in the area of copyright and trademarks. The copyright date of my edition is 1996 and may have been updated since. It is published by Allworth Press in Ny and the ISBN # is 1-880559-43-9 and the library of Congress card Number is: 95-83005. Ms. Wilson writes with an easy to understand style and makes understanding copyright law a bit easier. Being an amature photographer I bought this book seeking to find out what I had to do to file for copyrights on my pictures and other images. She is informative and like I said, this book may have been updated because of the digital explosion. I'd look for it and see.

Billy J

[staciecd]

It's a very nice compliment, but very annoying.

Would Version cue help to document versions with dates and such? It may be easier to use than a database.

Stacie

[Grendel]

Paul C wrote:"To copyrite a logo is very difficult. You would have to hire someone to do a search, prove that your design is unique, it's really not something that a person with a small business wants to get into."

Not true. Registering a logo as a trademark is very expensive. However it is easy and fairly inexpensive (and well worth it) to copyright your artwork.

Go to http://www.copyright.gov/ and select the appropriate type of work (usually Visual Art in our case).

There are forms to download, and directions on how to register, and examples of what qualifies as Visual Art.

It's $30 per submission. However, you can copyright "collections" of your art; several pieces at one time. I've sent several groups of artwork in, just to have the piece of mind that those ideas are in the bank.

Things to bear in mind: if someone already has created and copyrighted artwork similar to yours, they will hold the copyright, and you will not receive credit for that work. And it's still not bulletproof like a registered trademark. But just think about seeing your "copyrighted" artwork on the cover of a magazine or a billboard, and being legally able to get credit for your idea!

[KATT]

Thank you very much all of you. Just incase someone reads this thread later on and is wondering about CANADA, here is a good link to start from: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/copy_gd_main-e.html

Thanks again. :)