Copyright Law
Copyrights protect original works of authorship that have been fixed in a tangible medium (e.g, written down, recorded, drawn). In other words, copyrights protect art after it has been created in such a way that it can be archived and shared with others. A tune whistled in the shower is not eligible for protection until the composer writes it down or otherwise records it.
Copyright is a federal right that comes into being as soon as the art is fixed in tangible media. Registration of a copyright is optional, but registration of a work with the copyright office has substantial advantages over not registering. Probably most importantly, the work needs to be registered before the owner can bring a lawsuit to stop infringement and collect damages. Registration with the copyright office also allows the creator to claim statutory damages for infringement rather than having to prove what profits were lost because of the infringement.
The Law Office of Steven O’Donnell assists its clients in identifying their copyrights, complying with the relevant statutes and using those copyrights as part of a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio.
