Ignite Your Creative Sparks – Unleashing The Power Of Copyright Protection

Do you have an exciting idea for a new business, a groundbreaking product, an improved service or a work of art?

The first step after having a brilliant idea is to protect it. Good ideas can be precious, and unfortunately, thanks to the Internet and other global communication methods, the expressions of those ideas can often be instantly accessible.

We’ve all heard horror stories of artists and entrepreneurs having their IP “misappropriated” or just plain stolen – but that doesn’t have to happen to you.

Our attorneys at AU LLC have a substantial copyright law practice and can provide the solutions you need to protect your works of art and the IP therein.

We can help you:

Obtain A Copyright Registration;
Draft Licensing Agreements;
Pursue And Defend Against Copyright Infringement;
Settle Business Disputes;
Work With E-Commerce Platforms And Other Websites To Take Down Infringing Content;

Our attorneys can give you the support you need as you learn more about copyright rules and how copyright protection can support your needs.

Navigating Copyright Protection

Are you curious about copyright’s vital role in securing your creative assets? Explore our answers to common questions below to gain insights into the world of copyright protection.

Why Get A Copyright Registration?

Copyright is a form of protection provided by U.S. law to the creators of original works of authorship, which are fixed in a “tangible medium of expression.” You can “copyright” (i.e., enjoy copyright protection for) words, numbers, notes, sounds, pictures, or any other graphic or symbolic media. You can also copyright software and products as well as literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, audiovisual and architectural works.

With millions of people creating original works each year and many more looking to steal or appropriate innovative ideas and creations, authors need to understand copyright protection and their rights under the U.S. Copyright Act.

For instance, exclusive rights associated with a copyright are freely transferable and may be licensed, sold, donated to charity, or bequeathed to heirs.

Infringement violates any of the exclusive rights afforded to a copyright owner, such as reproduction, distribution, or display. Remedies for infringement available to copyright owners are preliminary and permanent injunctions (court orders to stop current or prevent future infringements), damages including statutory damages, impounding, destroying the infringing works, and costs and attorneys’ fees.

What Cannot Be Copyrighted?

It is essential to understand what cannot be protected through copyright. These include:

Ideas, procedures, methods, systems and processes: Copyright protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. The specific expression of an idea can be copyrighted but not the underlying idea.
Facts: Copyright does not protect facts, data or information. However, a particular way of presenting facts or compiling data may be eligible for copyright protection.
Names, titles, slogans or short phrases: These elements are generally considered too brief or lacking in original expression to qualify for copyright protection.
Functional elements of designs: If the design of a useful article (such as clothing, furniture or tools) is primarily dictated by its functional purpose, the design may not be eligible for copyright protection.
Short phrases or expressions: In some cases, short phrases, slogans or expressions may be considered too brief or generic to warrant copyright protection. For instance, common phrases like “Just Do It” (Nike) or “I’m Lovin’ It” (McDonald’s) might not be eligible for copyright protection on their own.
Simple mathematical formulas or algorithms: Copyright does not protect purely mathematical formulas or algorithms.
Ingredients: Merely listing ingredients, such as in a recipe, does not confer copyright protection.
Functional software interfaces: Copyright protection does not extend to the functional aspects of software interfaces, including the commands, menu structures or user interfaces necessary for the operation of the software.

Gray areas sometimes exist when a unique idea and its expression are deeply intertwined and the idea doesn’t lend itself to other expressions. The “merger doctrine” is a principle in copyright law that states that if there is only one or a limited number of ways for an idea to be expressed, the expression and the idea are merged and the expression cannot be copyrighted.

That can make it difficult to tell what can be done to protect your intellectual property rights since copyright may not apply, but trademark or patent protections might. One of the most important reasons to contact an attorney is to make sure that you apply for the right type of protection for your work.

What About Copyrights In The Business World?

While copyright considerations abound for artists and musicians, work-for-hire contractual arrangements and Digital Millennium Copyright Act website terms of use provisions are often at issue in the entrepreneurial context.

Enforcement of copyright interests generally requires that the work at issue be registered (or in the process of becoming registered) with the United States Copyright Office.

Unlike the USPTO, the Copyright Office is primarily a repository, with little substantive comparative prosecution process to complete. Further, it is prudent for copyright owners to register their works with the Copyright Office as soon as possible, or within three months of the work’s first publication, to help the owner take advantage of the Copyright Act’s statutory remedies should litigation ever ensue.

We Can Help You Get The Copyright You Need

At AU LLC, our intellectual property lawyers have assisted artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, web developers, product developers and businesses with identifying copyrightable assets, acquiring registrations for those assets, enforcing those copyright interests and advising on the prudence of certain creative efforts in light of preexisting content and the Copyright Act’s Fair Use exceptions to infringement.

We understand that having a great idea today can be exciting…and scary. At AU LLC, our attorneys provide the protection and legal support you need to move forward confidently.

IP Theft Is Growing

The production of counterfeit and pirated goods, including written works, software innovations and more, has become very prevalent. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development reports that the total value of counterfeit and pirated products traded across borders in 2016 amounted to $509 billion, or 3.3 percent of world trade.

Taking advantage of the copyright services provided by us can help ensure your property is not among the pirated goods. To protect yourself from Intellectual Property theft, having a knowledgeable copyright lawyer on your side is essential.

At AU LLC, our lawyers can help you understand what a copyright registration is and what it protects and help you secure one. With our expert help, you will be well prepared to defend yourself and your original works from the threat of IP theft.

Elevate Your Creativity – Secure Your Copyright with AU LLC

For more information about copyright protections or help obtaining a copyright, contact our experienced attorneys at AU LLC today.

Click here to contact us now. You can also call 312-900-9426 or email [email protected]. Our copyright services protect your original work (or works) of authorship.