“Leverage Your Creativity” 

Copyright protection allows the original works of an author/entrepreneur to be protected from unauthorized use. Interestingly enough, the word copyright means, the “right to copy.” Accordingly, copyright protection grants the author/entrepreneur of original works the exclusive right to use such works and the exclusive right to authorize permission to use material currently under copyright protection.

Common law copyright protection is automatically assigned to both published and unpublished original works. This means new creative works do not technically have to be registered with the federal government to have copyright protection. For this reason it is safe to say virtually all new literary works, music, pictures, drawings, movies, sculptors, architecture , and graphics have copyright protection in place and may not be used without the authors consent. This also means, as an entrepreneur, all your fresh content is instantly copyright protected!

Entrepreneurs looking to run a successful business will go the extra mile and secure registered copyright protection by registering with the federal government. This will ensure that your work is protected by the furthest extent possible and doubles as a great deterrent to scammers, con artists, competitors, and other would-be bad fellows looking to cash in on your hard work.

Benefits of registering for copyright protection:

1. Constructive notice to the public of the registrants claim of copyright.

2. Registration is necessary before an infringement suit may be filed in the court of law.

3. If registration occurs within 3 months from publication, or before an infringement, statutory damages and attorney fees will be paid to the rightful owner of the copyright in question. Furthermore, infringement is a criminal offence and carries additional penalties.

4. Registered copyright protection grants the owner the opportunity to file with the United States Customs and Border Protection in efforts to stop any infringing copies from entering the nation.

Here are two more reasons to register your copyright:

1. Copyright protection is cheap

2. Copyright protection is easy

Steps to register your copyright

• Go to http://www.loc.gov/

• Click “Publications.”

• Click “Copyright Office.”

• Click “Forms.”

• Read the provided tutorials

• Click the button labeled Electronic Copyright Office

• Complete the application

• Upload a copy of your work

• Pay the low filing fee

 Need Help?  Visit LegalZoom.com  Legal Documents at Lawyer-Free Pricing