Theft of intellectual property is all too common, and it can be difficult to prove it was yours first. Copyright laws are there to protect people against such harm. It doesn’t matter if you have written music, a book, a play, or even a proposal for a business. The work you complete is yours and you are entitled to the rights to it. This means you can do what you wish with the materials.
The problem is when other people take that material and make it their own. This can happen when you work with other people in any type of setting. They can have access to your materials and then try to use them as their own. You may have a website and discover someone is trying to use your materials that are posted there. Perhaps you have sold products, and now someone else is using them to sell their own products and make money.
Ownership in the Eyes of the Law
You can protect your ownership with the help of a copyright lawyer in Long Island. They understand how such ownership appears in the eyes of the law. They can help you get your materials registered with the United States Copyright Office. This is part of the Library of Congress. Once that ownership is recognized, anyone who takes advantage of using your materials can be sued. They may have to pay you money for illegally using your materials, as well as give you the profits they made from using them.
You can choose to protect your materials with your name or with your business name. A copyright lawyer can discuss with you the pros and cons of each option. They can also help you to get the correct forms completed for that registration to be approved. If your information isn’t complete, then it can delay that copyright being issued. It can also result in a denial, and then you would have to start the process all over again.
Pursuing Infringement
A copyright lawyer is able to help you get your case filed and heard in a court of law. It can be a long process to get this in motion on your own. They know the right paperwork to file and the right channels to go through. There can be complex issues about where to file the case too, as it depends on where you reside and where the infringement took place.
It can take time and effort to identify the depth of any infringement that has taken place. Your lawyer will need to gather that information and present it to the courts. The burden of proof will be on the side of your representation. The lawyer can also help you to determine the amount of money to ask for with such a claim.
