By Elizabeth Weber, Esq.
Copyright protection is a cornerstone of intellectual property law for those who create expressive works. However, a startling number of artists do not register their copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office for one reason or another, ranging from a lack of knowledge on how to go about registering a copyright or the unwillingness to register because a work is, technically, protected under copyright law the moment it is created. Whatever the underlying reason, those who do not register their copyrights are at a stark disadvantage for one main reason: an unregistered copyright holder, meaning the individual who owns the unregistered copyright, is precluded from suing an individual who infringes upon the work’s copyright in court. In short, only registered copyright holders may bring actions of copyright infringement against alleged infringers.
With this in mind, Center for Art Law believes that providing some basic information on copyrights and copyright law to our readers would prove beneficial. Please note that this article does not, in any way, shape, or form, constitute legal advice. If our readers have any questions about copyright law, we strongly urge them to consult an attorney.
A Bit of Background Information on U.S. Copyright Law
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