Copyrights

Bergen County, NJ Copyrights Attorney

Representing clients through obtaining and protecting copyrights

A copyright grants exclusive rights to the creator or assignee to publish, perform, film, print, or record literal, artistic, or musical material or grant another party the right to do so. Copyrights function to protect material on a tangible and permanent medium. Just by writing something down, it is copyrighted. Going further to protect your work is very important. Legally, you don’t need to register your work for copyright protection but registration with the Copyright Office provides further protection and provides the means of legal action through treble damages in case of infringement. Your art could be profitable and better your life. It is important that you consider your future when your idea can have a positive impact. If you have fixed your idea to a tangible and permanent medium, contact The Law Offices of Richard E. Novak, LLC for a consultation.

Obtaining a copyright

With the guidance of our firm, obtaining the “circled C” is quite simple. By contacting the U.S. Copyright Office and follow a few steps. The Copyright Office needs a copy of the material to keep in the Library of Congress. Once it is approved, you will be granted the copyright notice with the year of first publication and the owner’s name.

Term of copyright protection

The term of protection depends on the date of conception of the material. For copyrighted material created on or after January 1st of 1978, protection covers the owner’s material from the date of creation until 70 years after the creator passes. For material that was contracted, anonymous, or created under another name, unless revealed in the Copyright Office’s records, the term of protection is 95 years from the date of publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever comes first. For work created before January 1, 1978, things are more complicated. The law provides protection for life plus 70, 95, or 120 years, depending on the nature of authorship.

Contact an experienced NJ copyright attorney

The Law Offices of Richard E. Novak, LLC in Englewood, NJ is honored to serve the needs of clients engaged in the world of intellectual property. Our firm works with clients to formulate a comprehensive strategy to meet their IP needs and optimize the return on their unique idea. If your material constitutes the need for copyright protection, our firm will guide you through the process and provide your means to profit on your idea, if applicable. If you need quality legal support through any intellectual property matter, it is important that you retain the services of an experienced and effective law firm. If you need our help, contact The Law Offices of Richard E. Novak, LLC.