THE BASICS
What copyright protects
Copyright covers original creative work, such as writing, photos, video, music, artwork and code, once it's recorded in a lasting form.
In the US, copyright generally applies automatically once original work is recorded, whether on paper, in a file or on video. There's no form to fill in for it to start.
It covers the expression, not the idea behind it. Someone else can typically write their own book on the same topic. Copyright is about the words, images and sounds themselves. It doesn't cover names, titles or short slogans, which fall under trademarks instead.
Registering with the US Copyright Office is a separate step. It's optional, but for a US work it's typically needed before a copyright can be enforced in court. Separate works, such as each book or each course, are commonly registered separately; an attorney confirms how to group them.
Mailing a copy to yourself isn't registration, and the law gives it no special weight.
Why this matters to your business
Photos, writing, courses and code are often part of what a business sells or how it looks. Knowing what copyright covers helps when someone copies that work, and when a buyer or investor asks what the business holds. Registration matters most for the works a business would most want to defend.
What an attorney will want to know
- A list of the works that matter most to the business
- Who created each one, and when
- Any agreements with freelancers, agencies or co-founders
- Any earlier copyright registration numbers
Ask your attorney
Which of my works would be worth registering first?
Can I register a group of related works together?
General information, not legal advice. An attorney confirms how this applies to you.