Copyright FAQs

A copyright is a form of intellectual property protection that gives the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution. This includes literary, musical, dramatic, and artistic works, as well as software and architecture.

Copyright protects original works of authorship including books, music, artwork, photographs, films, software code, and architectural designs. It does not protect ideas, facts, systems, or methods of operation.

Copyright protection is automatic upon creation of the work. However, federal registration provides significant legal benefits including the ability to sue for infringement, eligibility for statutory damages, and a public record of your claim.

For works created after January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For works made for hire, copyright lasts 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

Copyright protects original creative works (books, music, art), while trademarks protect brand identifiers (names, logos, slogans) used in commerce. They serve different purposes and are registered with different offices.

The filing fee for a basic copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is typically $45-$65 for online applications. Our service includes professional preparation and filing assistance.

No, copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. These may be eligible for trademark protection instead. Copyright protects the expression of ideas in a tangible form.

A DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown is a legal process to remove infringing content from the internet. If someone is using your copyrighted material without permission, you can file a DMCA takedown notice with the hosting provider.