Copyright is a type of protection offered by the law to the authors of original intellectual work including graphic, sculptural or pictorial works. The holder of the copyright in work has all the rights to make copies, derivative works, distribute or sell copies and showcase the work publicly. Anyone else who wishes to use the work in the ways as mentioned earlier must seek the permission of the author or anyone who has gotten the rights from the author. Copyrights come into effect instantly something that is worth protection is created and placed somehow on paper, online, sound recording, film just to mention a few.
No official registration necessary
In the past, it was quite challenging to get copyright protection if your work was not already published, registered with the copyright office or didn’t carry the famous copyright notice. This is no longer the case today as there are no requirements to receive copyright protection. It is possible to receive copyright protection even without registering the intellectual work with the copyright office. For the last two decades, the absence of a copyright message doesn’t eliminate or invalidate copyright protection for the work in question.
Effective immediately
Sine January 1, 1978, the copyright law became efficient, and it states that any intellectual work is automatically offered copyright protection after creation. Simply put, this means that any work is covered by copyright protection the moment it’s recorded on paper or a phone record for the initial period.
Less cost involved
You don’t have to part with any cash to get copyright protection. All you need to have is a filled application form, a nonrefundable deposit of registration and a small fee for filling the form payable by either money order or check to the registrar of copyrights each time you make an application.
Makes it easier to affirm rights
If someone decides to get into a court battle with you claiming your unregistered copyrights, it may be an uphill task asserting your rights in court. Plagiarism is very common today, and without dating your document and putting a copyright notice on it, the courts may rule against you. So seek copyright protection because you never know how a court may arrive at its decision.
Allows for interim injunction rights
If you have a certificate of registration for the next five years after the creation date, it serves as an official proof that the work is original and that you are the real owner. With copyright protection, you can get a temporary injunction against anyone who is infringing on your intellectual work.
Lets holder warn infringers
Most violation cases are settled out of court. With copyright protection, you can send letters to those encroaching on your copyrights to stop what they are doing or face further legal action if they fail to comply.
Gives the owner right to sue for infringement
If you want to bring a breach lawsuit against someone you must have registered your copyright earlier. In some cases. You can file for copyright then file the lawsuit however you will end up spending lots of cash.
Entitles holder to compensation
Perhaps, the best benefit of filing for copyrights for your intellectual work is that it entitles you to compensation if done on time. For instance, if you register your job in four months of its creation and you come out victorious in a violation lawsuit, you will be awarded more bucks.