Category: Copyrights

Copyrights, The Basics

The Copyright Claims Board: A New Process for Helping Copyright Owners Fight Infringement

Copyright infringement can be extremely damaging to content owners, who have spent significant time, money, and effort to create content for others to enjoy. What recourse does a copyright owner have, when someone makes unauthorized copies of their work? Previously, the most common option was to file a take-down notice and hope the infringement is removed as soon as possible, limiting […]

Copyrights, Patents, The Basics, Trademark Ownership

Can Intellectual Property Be Sold?

Just like any other kind of property, intellectual property is able to be bought and sold. Unlike physical property, however, there is an added complexity to IP transactions that coincides with the transfer of the intangible value that it possesses. The price tag set on your trademarks, copyrights, or patents is determined by numerous factors, such as market- and cost-based estimates, […]

Copyrights, General

Copyright Protection – Why Should You Register Your Copyrights?

Copyright protection gives creators (whether individuals or companies) the ability to stop others from (among other things) reproducing the creator’s content without permission. In a digital world where anything can be reproduced, stolen, and sold with only a few clicks, it is essential that creators protect their copyrights. We will go into more detail below, but to start, here are a […]

Copyrights, The Basics

The Basics of US Copyright Law

Copyright law is one of the three major forms of intellectual property, along with trademark law and patent law. Unlike trademark law, which primarily deals with brands, and patent law, which deals with inventions, copyrights protect “creative works,” and give authors and creators protection for their writings, photos, drawings, sculptures, movies, and more, like computer code and audio. To more learn […]

Copyrights, The Basics

The 30 Percent Rule in Copyright Law

There is no “30% Rule.” I work with a lot of clients who are building their brands and their content, and one question I frequently get is “isn’t there a rule where you can copy something as long as you change 30% of it?” This myth of the “30% rule” is pervasive and widely cited around the Internet, but it is […]

Copyrights, General, Patents, The Basics

The Main Types of Intellectual Property

There are three main types of intellectual property: A trademark is anything that represents a brand. Words, logos, and slogans are common trademarks. A copyright protects works of authorship, including novels, poetry, art, and music. A patent protects aspects of an invention, which can include both functionality and design. 1. Trademarks So what is a trademark? A trademark is anything that […]

Copyrights, General, The Basics

Trademark vs. Copyright: What’s the Difference?

A trademark represents your brand or product. Names, logos, and slogans are common trademarks. A copyright, on the other hand, protects a work of authorship, including books, paintings, and even computer code. To ensure intellectual property is protected, work with your attorney to obtain a federal registration. What is a Trademark? A trademark is anything that represents your brand in the […]

Copyrights, General, The Basics

How to Copyright Your Website

If you are a business owner or blogger seeking protection for your website, you should begin the process to copyright your site by registering with the U.S. Copyright Office. Here are the 5 steps to copyright a website: Determine the ownership of the website’s content. Determine what can be copyrighted. Work with an experienced copyright attorney. Submit your application to the […]

Copyrights, How To's, Patents, The Basics, Trademark Protection, Trademark Protection

How to Protect Product Packaging using Copyrights, Design Patents, and Trade Dress

Many business owners know that names, slogans, and logo can act as trademarks and can give the owner exclusive rights to use that phrase in connection with their products and services. But how can business owners protect the design and look of their product or product packaging to stop competitors from making similar packaging? Protecting the “look and feel” of a […]

Copyrights, In The News, Sports, The Basics

Supreme Court: Copyright Protection Extends to Uniform Designs

One day, while browsing through a competitor’s marketing catalog, a manufacturer of cheerleading uniforms came across cheerleading uniforms that were very similar to the company’s designs. This is how a dispute between two cheerleading uniform companies started, a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court and could have drastic implications in many creative industries. The Initial Question: Are […]

Copyrights, The Basics, Trademark Infringement

On-line Copyright and Trademark Enforcement: Why Registration of Your Intellectual Property is Critical

As many successful online entrepreneurs have found out, with success comes copycats, especially on marketplaces like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon. With access to platforms that allow anyone to easily set up an on-line store and sell goods, on-line infringement and counter-fitting of trademarks and copyrights has become a rampant problem. The single most effective step that you can take to protect against […]