Painters, Writers, Musicians, Sculptors, Designers, Poets - these skilled "makers" are in the business of creativity. By definition, copyright protection comes automatically at the moment the painter puts the brush to canvas or when an author writes her story. Copyright protection is born when the author fixes the work in a tangible form, without the author having to do anything more than that. But there are very important reasons why someone should file for copyright protection with the U.S. Copyright Office. There are distinct benefits in seeking a registered copyright. At Taylor & Yiokarinis, we can help.

Why register?

1. Copyright registration establishes a public record of your copyright and puts everyone in the world on notice that you have sought and claim copyright protection under the U.S. Copyright laws.
2. You cannot sue anyone for copyright infringement until you have filed for copyright protection with the U.S. Copyright Office.
3. No award for statutory damages or attorneys fees will be made for any infringement of a copyright in an unpublished work which occurs prior to the submission of the copyright registration documents. The same holds true for published works, unless the copyright registration is made within three months after the first publication.
4. If the registration of your work is done within five years from its creation, it is considered prima facie evidence in court. Prima facie evidence means that if you ever went to court, proof of the copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office would be sufficient evidence of your ownership of the copyrighted material.

You don't have to be a professional to have these rights. Anyone can have them and anyone can protect their very valuable work. At Taylor & Yiokarinis, we appreciate the value of what our clients create. We will discuss with you precisely what your rights are, prepare and file a U.S. copyright application and instruct you how to maintain your valuable intellectual property.

To learn more about Copyrights & Trademarks, visit our Copyrights and Trademark Basics page.