Are website designs protected by copyright? The answer may surprise you. Everything that is placed into a reproducible form is copyrighted under the law. Keep reading for answers to the three most frequently asked website copyright questions.
Q: Do I Need To Register My Copyright In Order For It To Be Valid?
A: Yes and no. If you register your website design as a copy written work and someone uses it without your permission, you can take them to court and if you can prove that you are the original creator of the design, in most cases, you can successfully sue them for damages. If you don’t register your copyright and someone copies your work, you may be able to recover statutory damages, but these usually do not include legal fees and your case may be more difficult to prove.
Q: What Does My Copyright Protect?
A: Under U.S. Copyright Law, copyrighting of a website protects the artwork, writing, design, and other forms of authorship.
Q: How Do I Register My Website Copyright?
A: Visit the US Government website www.copyright.gov follow the instructions, pay the fees, and you’re done.
With so many people creating websites and starting online businesses, it never hurts to be cautious. Take the extra time necessary to protect your website from being used without your permission-you’ll be glad that you did.
About the author: Jeune Ortiz is VP of Marketing and Creative Director at future-ink. With more than 20 years of experience in graphic design and marketing, Jeune brings extensive knowledge and creativity to each website and internet marketing solution to grow your business.
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1 Comment
Cordia Harris | November 10, 2009
Very interested in registering my website copyright.