Intellectual property on and off
Internet is a growing field and you need to keep up with legalities. Here are 10 things you need to know:1. Check with your attorney, because it’s confusing. Even being a certified paralegal, I find intellectual property law daunting.
2.According to Cornell Law School Legal Institute website (http://www.law.cornell.edu/ ), “under current law, works are covered whether or not a copyright is attached and whether or not work is registered.” (This means registered with US Copyright Office.)
3.HOWEVER, American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association [AIPLA] says “registration … is not required for existence of copyright; however, it is a prerequisite to a lawsuit for copyright infringement and to certain legal remedies.” [Source: http://www.aipla.org/Content/ContentGroups/Publications1/Publications_available_for_viewing1/What_is_a_Patent_and_Trademark.htm ] They recommend you have a specialist draft document.
4. Does that mean you should get one? Is a © of any use if it doesn’t allow you “remedies”? I refer clients to an attorney.
5.To get an official copyright, you can apply directly to US Copyright office - http://www.copyright.gov/register .
Here is another resource that explains process: http://www.lawgirl.com/registration.shtml 6.Here are some of things they list as capable of being copyrighted:
