The answer is: the moment you create it.
Your original song, screenplay, or painting, and your marketing copy, booklets, and flyers are protected by the spirit of copyright the moment you “fix it in a tangible medium,” like writing it down, recording it, or painting it.
That automatic protection is great, but to really scare off thieves and sue for infringement, you need to register it with the U.S. Copyright Office. It’s an easy process that gives you a lot of power.
Don’t let your creative legacy fade. Lock it down.
Intellectual property is one of the most terrifyingly useful tools you have. If you’re a creator or other entrepreneur ready to build a frighteningly powerful brand and business, you need to know how to use it. You don’t have to face the darkness alone, though.
I help entrepreneurs across the U.S. make smart, legally sound decisions about their intellectual property. I’m an attorney in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, but I serve intellectual property clients nationwide.
If you’d like to consult with me, you can use my contact form or book a consultation online at kingpatentlaw.com or by calling my office at 312-596-2222 or 217-714-8558.
Please check out the other posts and pages on my website for more information on copyright and other intellectual property and business law issues. I’m also on most major podcast platforms as “Know Your Rights: Your Intellectual Property and Business Law Playbook” and on most social media as @kingpatentlaw.
RSS - Posts
