Connelly Law PLLC

Intro

Help With Copyrights

In the U.S., copyrights are governed by the Copyright Act of 1976. A copyright is defined as the exclusive legal right given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material and to authorize others to do the same. Importantly, while copyrights prohibit unauthorized copying of a particular work, the ideas contained within copyrighted material are not protected. For example, copyrights might cover a machine’s description whereas a patent would protect the machine itself.

Creators of works can register copyrights with the Library of Congress’s Copyright Office. This is important as in 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that copyrights must be federally registered in order to sue for infringement. The intellectual property attorneys at Connelly Law PLLC can help clients with all aspects of the copyright protection and enforcement.

Attain

Obtaining Copyrights

Securing a copyright provides several advantages. First, registering a copyright creates a record of the creator’s claim. Second, a copyright must be registered before one can file an infringement lawsuit in federal court. Finally, registering copyrights before infringement happens or within three months of when your work is published might permit the recovery of attorney’s fees and statutory penalties through a lawsuit. Plaintiff’s who can show willful infringement may be entitled to damages up to $150,000 per work.

To apply for a copyright registration, one must submit the proper application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, and a copy of the work to be copyrighted. Connelly Law PLLC can help you to submit your application and fee electronically and track the application status.