Ways to overcome copyright problems
In this age of instant communication, more and more ideas are born and products are created than ever before. With the current business trend, new business owners are creating never-before-seen content and services to improve the world. With so much going on, it can be easy to create something that copies someone else too closely. Fortunately, there are several steps that can be taken to overcome copyright issues.
1. Obtain the permission of the original owner.
When it comes to using copyrighted content, the only legal way to make use of the content is to contact the original owner and ask for permission. In the event that this is impossible, there are websites like Creative Commons that offer royalty-free images and audio files that are free for commercial use.
2. Trademark and copyright of your own content.
If you create something that you intend to turn into a business or stream of income, it is important to obtain the legal rights to it. While it may be your intellectual property, it can’t prevent someone from creating a similar idea and starting a business based on it. It is important to register and copyright your ideas to protect them.
3. Obtain legal copyrights.
Intellectual property can be copyrighted simply by placing the copyright symbol in front of it with your name. However, the Copyright Law covers certain subjects over which it is not so easy to claim ownership, including architectural and choreographic works. Speaking with a copyright attorney is the way to go to properly claim ownership of your own work and avoid illegal copying of your work.
4. Mark your property.
A trademark differs from a copyright primarily in the things it protects. While copyright is generally used to cover creative work, trademarks are used to protect names, logos, symbols, and other corporate IP. The process of registering a property is long and complicated, so it is best to seek professional help. You should first search to ensure that there are no existing trademarks similar to the one you wish to submit; even if an existing trademark is not identical, one that is too similar may make it impossible for you to file.
5. Remember: registration is not required.
Since 1978, there has been no formal requirement in the United States for copyrighted work to bear the copyright symbol. A novel, for example, is protected as soon as it is ‘saved’ into a Word document. That said, registration of the work offers certain protections that intellectual property rights do not. A person can only sue for copyright issues if his copyright is registered. The restitution a person can receive for damages will only count after the content is searched, not before.
While it may be an extra step, taking the time to copyright and trademark your property, whether intellectual or physical, can protect it in ways you can’t claim ownership. Copyright issues can pose a number of problems for content creators or those who want to use content, but knowing how to overcome these issues before they arise can save you a lot of headaches.