I have been receiving quite a few questions on Copyrights lately especially from the International arenas. Intellectual Property is one of my favorite subjects. Therefore, I would like to share some information and also ask if readers would share their country’s official government Patent and Copyright websites so to form a database of links. Two of the most common questions I have received are:
Will my copyright protect me overseas?
· There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that will automatically protect an author’s works in countries around the world.
· Copyright protection is “territorial” in nature, which means that copyright protection depends on the national laws where protection is sought.
· Follow the link for a listing of Countries that have entered into International Agreements http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ShowResults.jsp?country_id=ALL&start_year=ANY&end_year=ANY&search_what=C&treaty_id=16
How can I secure a copyright in the United States?
· You do not have to register your work before you can claim Copyright. No publication, registration or other action in the US Copyright Office is required to secure a Copyright.
· A Copyright is automatically secured when a work is created.
· A work is created when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time.
· Registration is necessary before an infringement suit may be filed in court (for works of U. S. origin).
· Filing in the USA is not difficult. http://www.copyright.gov/
· http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/copyright/copyrightrefresher.htm