How Does the Government Want You to Copyright Your Work?

Once you have created anything in tangible form, it has a copyright and is automatically protected under the internationally accepted Berne Convention copyright agreement.

So, you might ask, “If I already have a copyright and copyright protection. Is this enough?”

Not in this fast paced era of digital creations and easy distribution over the internet. If you find someone using your work, how do you prove, “This is my creation, and these are my terms?” My Free Copyright creates a public historical record matching you, your copyright, and its terms of use. This registration is verifiable in a court of law and allows you to prove, “I created that.”

You might ask, “Is registering with My Free Copyright enough?”

In most countries, registering with My Free Copyright will be enough; however, some countries have extra guidelines in addition to those stated in the Berne Convention. The United States adds extra requirements to those stated in the Berne Convention. In the United States, you can collect from a copyright infringer their profits and/or your losses if you win a copyright infringement lawsuit. However, you are unable to collect statutory damages from the infringer, which can sometimes be the larger amount collected, unless you complete a registration form and send it to the U.S. government with a check(currently $45.00) for each individual original creation and update to the original creation.

This process is expensive and may not be as practical today as it was in the past given the fast paced exchange of digital information and the use of current technologies. Becasue original digital creations are generated and distributed so quickly on the internet, these extra guidelines are difficult to comply with, which is why we are seeing a new movement beginning in digital copyright protection. This movement was mentioned recently in BusinessWeek and the WSJ.

Registering with My Free Copyright is instant and can be proven in a court of law. If you have more questions or want to pursue other options, you can protect your copyright by registering with My Free Copyright, which creates a verifiable public record; then you can seek the advice of a copyright professional in your jurisdiction.

Do you have an original digital creation you would like to register?

Disclaimer: My Free Copyright is not a law firm and suggests that you seek the advice of a professional in your jurisdiction to see what other options are available for you beyond a date registration with My Free Copyright.

Add comment December 27th, 2006