Registering your copyrights is something you can do easily yourself. If you don't want to be bothered filling out one form and writing a check, then I'd recommend looking for an attorney who deals in IP law.
The most effective/economical way is to register an entire "collection" at one time -- just be sure to have some way to reference each individual photo.
In the US, complete documentation, forms, and instructions are available from the U.S. Copyright Office.
An additional resource for DIY legal work is Nolo Press publishers of self-help legal information for over 30 years.
So if I post a pic on here and don't fill out all that paperwork it is ok for anyone to use it?
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Registering your copyrights is something you can do easily yourself. If you don't want to be bothered filling out one form and writing a check, then I'd recommend looking for an attorney who deals in IP law.
The most effective/economical way is to register an entire "collection" at one time -- just be sure to have some way to reference each individual photo.
In the US, complete documentation, forms, and instructions are available from the U.S. Copyright Office.
An additional resource for DIY legal work is Nolo Press publishers of self-help legal information for over 30 years.
So if I post a pic on here and don't fill out all that paperwork it is ok for anyone to use it?
No, it's not "OK," but not registering limits the damages you can collect, and can make it harder to win your case. Your copyright exists from the moment of creation, but enforcing that copyright can be expensive -- having a valid registration almost ensures a winning case, which would make it more likely an attorney would take your case on a contingency-fee basis.
So if I post a pic on here and don't fill out all that paperwork it is ok for anyone to use it?
Technically, a piece of art (photo, painting, song, etc.) is subject to copyright laws at the moment it was captured / created. The legal formality is to prove that you wrote / painted / photographed it. And NO it is not ok for anyone to use it. It is still illegal for anyone else to use it without your permission, but again it comes down to proving the work is yours.
When I was a pro musician years ago I recorded new songs on tape and mailed it to myself via certified mail. Never opened and stored away, it served as a time capsule (as verified by the USPS) of what and when I wrote the works. If you are worried about your works being used, you can submit a disc with hundreds of photos for copyright simultaneously for one price. (Oh, a minute late!)
When I was a pro musician years ago I recorded new songs on tape and mailed it to myself via certified mail. Never opened and stored away, it served as a time capsule (as verified by the USPS) of what and when I wrote the works.
