You’ve worked hard to build your website and create content that’s unique and appealing to your readers.  It’s understandable that the last thing you’d want is for someone to be able to steal your content and use it on a website that is not affiliated with your business or brand.
But do you need to copyright the content on your website to achieve that goal?
Copyright Protection Is Automatic
Fortunately, under the law, a copyright exists the moment a work is created, whether it’s something written, drawn, photographed, etc.  You do not have to take any special steps to receive this protection.
That said, you should not take this to mean that you should not also pursue registering your copyright on the federal level. While you are automatically granted copyright protection when your work is created, you cannot sue for infringement in federal court if your content is not formally registered. Having a registered copyright may also position you to receive more in damages if your lawsuit is successful and owning a registration is the only way to obtain your attorney’s fees for enforcing the registration.
Won’t a Copyright Notice Protect Me?
Many websites contain a copyright notice in their footer that reads, “All Rights Reserved” or contains the copyright symbol with the current year.  You can display the copyright symbol or language claiming copyright even if your content is not federally registered.  While it won’t legally protect you, it puts others on notice to your claim of copyright and may help to deter potential infringers from stealing your material even if you cannot formally pursue an infringement claim in court.
How Can I Move Forward with Registering My Content?
An attorney who focuses on intellectual property rights can help you copyright your website or any other content of your business that you wish to protect.  If you’d like to discuss your options, we invite you to contact our copyright and trademark attorneys at 888-666-0062 to schedule a consultation.
 
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney.
 
Law Office of Jason H. Rosenblum, PLLC © 2018 All rights reserved.