Copyright
A federal right granted to the creator of an original work of authorship to control its reproduction, distribution, and adaptation.
Copyright protects original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium, writing, photographs, video, software code, graphic art, music, choreography. Protection arises automatically upon fixation; you do not have to register to own a copyright.
Federal registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is what unlocks the stronger remedies: statutory damages, attorney's fees, and the right to sue in federal court. Without registration, your damages are limited to actual loss.
For California businesses, common copyright issues include logo and website design ownership, photographer and contractor work-for-hire questions, social media content reuse, and software license enforcement. We register, license, and enforce copyrights for founders and creative teams.
Related terms
Get started with Intellectual Property
Have a matter that touches this term?
A partner reviews every submission personally and responds within one business day.