Protecting your Copyright with Good Business Practices
As copyright law stands today—and PPA is working to make it better—there are no perfect solutions. But there are simple steps that, if taken at the beginning, can prevent infringement or give you a bigger stick if infringement occurs. In this, the first of an occasional series by PPA’s copyright counsel, we want to remind you of how and why to make a stitch in time.
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2008 Copyright Kit
In this latest revision of the Copyright Kit, we have included information on the following topics:General information explaining U.S. Federal Copyright Law, How PPA can assist in protecting your rights, Information on how to protect your copyright, Information on how to enforce your copyright, Recommended reading and resources.
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The PPA Guide to Copyright Registration and Deposit
Less than 1% of professional photographers regularly register their work with the Copyright Office – which also means that they are the only photographers who have a realistic chance of enforcing their copyright in court.
The reason is economics. The United States has a two-tier system of copyright infringement damages. While all creative works are copyrighted at the moment of creation, they are not eligible for the maximum level of legal protection unless they are formally registered and deposited with the United States Copyright Office. Access to these enhanced damages, also requires that the registration be “timely.” The work must be registered prior to the infringement, or within the first three months after the work (not the infringement) was first published.
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Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Copyrights
Yes, the Federal Copyright Law states that the images you create are copyrighted from the moment of creation. But, we strongly recommend that you do not depend on that to stop illegal copying of your work. Fortunately, there are a number of very effective steps photographers can take to protect their rights. This document lists and explains 5 such steps.
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