Unlike patents, which protect utilitarian innovations, and trademarks, through which one ’ s branding is protected, copyrights protect artistic expression, including paintings, graphic designs, photographs, illustrations, musical compositions, sound recordings, computer programs, books, poems, blog posts and other website content, movies, architectural works, and plays.
Like patents, copyright protection is a Constitutional protection. Specifically, for the purpose of promoting “ the Progress of Science and useful Arts, ” Clause 8 of the United States Constitution allows “ for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.... ” Copyright owners are granted, for a limited time, the exclusive right to reproduce their work; prepare derivative works based on their work; distribute copies of their work; perform their work; and display their work.
An author or owner of a copyrightable work can also obtain registration in that work through the U.S. Copyright Office. While registering a work is not mandatory, copyright registration provides substantial benefits — especially if the work is infringed.
At Winder Intellectual Property Law, we assist creators and copyright owners in submitting applications for registration with the U.S. Copyright Office and representing them through the examination process.
