Demystifying Copyright Symbols
Be confused no more! I’m about to take the guesswork out of how to create and use a proper copyright notice. You see copyright symbols all the time but may not be sure what the symbol really means. The copyright symbol, the letter C in a circle, or ©, may be used for any “original […]
Trademarks, Copyrights and Common Law: Possession is Only Nine-Tenths of the Law
There is a maxim that tells us, “Possession is 9/10’s of the law.” However, that doesn’t mean you can ignore the remaining 1/10. In fact, doing so when it comes to your trademarks and copyrights could cause irreparable harm to you and your business! For this concept to make sense, you need to understand how […]
What Are Copyrights and What Can You Copyright?
What are Copyrights? Copyright law gives people a way to protect the tangible expressions of their creative ideas, such as a writing (a blog, essay, book), a canvas, a sound recording, a photograph, a video game, and so forth. It also provides a set of rules that determine when a person can claim legal ownership […]
4 Things to do Before You Apply for Copyright Registration
You’ve created an original work and you’re ready to copyright it. It’s time to apply for copyright registration. Stop right there! Before you apply for copyright registration, there are some very important things that you need to consider and some information that you need to have on hand. To help you save time and reduce […]
The Getty Images Demand Letter – Copyright Bully vs. You
For over seven years, Getty Images’ high-priced law firm has been intimidating small businesses, website owners, bloggers, and more with heavy-handed copyright bullying tactics. Using its automated software (which ramped up in 2011 after Getty Images acquired PicScout for $20 million), images that appear to have been used without the publisher paying for the appropriate […]
Disney Sends DMCA Take-Down to a Facebook Page over Star Wars Toy Photo
Marjorie and Arnie Carvalho run the Star Wars Action News Facebook Page. They publish content about Star Wars collectibles, so you can imagine their excitement to share a photo taken at a Walmart store of a new action figure from the upcoming Star Wars movie. You can also imagine their surprise when they received a […]
Owner or Author – What’s the Difference?
Just because you wrote it doesn’t mean you own it. Just because you painted it doesn’t mean you own it. Just because you recorded it doesn’t mean you own it. This list could go on and on because copyright law views the creator of a work and the owner of the legal rights to the […]
Copyright Terms and Sonny Bono – The Surprising Link
What do copyright terms and Sonny Bono have to do with each other? Well, did you know that Sonny Bono has been the only (at least as far as I know) member of Congress to have a number one hit song on Billboard Magazine’s “Hot 100” list? “I Got You Babe,” his famous duet with […]