It is very important to understand the basic concept of copyright before discussing the issue further. In the United States, the copyright law protects the original creation of art and culture by rewarding the creator a set of rights that safeguards the piece of work from being copied partially or completely.
Many artists wonder if formal registration of their artwork is always necessary to save their work from copyright infringement. Well, it depends on the kind of art one produces.
All kinds of artwork are not equally vulnerable and do not need copyright protection. However, for artists, their creation is extremely important to them and no one wants to part with their share of hard work and appreciation without proper permission. Whether it is a painting, graphic expression, sculpture, movie, a piece of literature, sound recording; a misrepresentation of an original piece of work is never desirable.
Is it necessary to register every work of art?
First of all, it is important to understand what kind of art is highly at risk and need copyright protection. Asking these questions may give you the right answer.
• Can your art be a source of income for infringers?
• Does your art have a commercial appeal?
• Is it easy to replicate on commercial products?
• Is your art unique, extremely popular or attractive?
If the answer for any of these questions is affirmative, it may be a good idea to through a formal copyrighting process.
What are the legal ways of protecting a work of art from copyright infringement?
Most importantly, to be protected by copyright, a work of art cannot be just a concept. It has to be expressed on a tangible medium of expression like on paper, canvas, print or even digitally. Different nations follow their own copyright rules. However, when in the U.S one needs to register the artwork with the U.S. Copyright Office.
The harsh reality in today’s world is that almost everyone can access your artwork the moment it is on the internet. Chances of it being copied and someone earning profits with your ideas are also high. There are some ways in which you can prevent misuse and protect your work to a great extent.
• Publish your art with a copyright symbol on the internet
• Keep images small and low-resolution while posting on websites
• Use a watermark across the image
• Convert images to flash to make them difficult to simply copy and paste
• When posting images on social media platforms read terms and conditions carefully
These below videos by lawyers and artists are a great help for students looking for law essay help material as well as artists trying to protect their artwork.
How can I save myself from copyright infringements?
No one likes to get into copyright infringement and face legal proceedings. Often people unintentionally land up in trouble copyright infringement lawsuits. To steer clear of copyright violations follow some simple basics.
• Use your own photographs and other source materials
• Use images from the public domain
• understand the laws of the land that are applicable to you
• Take permission, pay fees if required when using material from copyright protected sources
These videos are a good way to learn how to protect your digital artwork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oww9tsP30eA