FAQS
How does a copyright protect me?
- IP
- IP 101
Copyright protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as photographs, books, movies, songs, and software. Copyright protection can also extend to some online content, including websites, social media and online postings, graphics, and logos.
The Copyright Act generally gives the owner of a copyright the exclusive right to:
- make copies;
- prepare adaptations;
- distribute copies of the work ; and
- perform or display the work publicly.
The owner of a copyright, once registered, may sue potential infringers. Remedies available include: (1) a court order barring the infringer from continuing the infringing activity; (2) confiscation and destruction of the infringing items; (3) the payment to the copyright owner of any profits that the infringer received and of any losses suffered by the copyright owner; and (4) in some cases, statutory damages as an alternative to actual profits and losses, and attorneys’ fees.
Copyright law also provides practical tools to help rights owners stop third-party infringers, particularly online. For example, most online platforms take advantage of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which enables a copyright owner to submit a so-called takedown notice identifying infringing user-posted content, triggering removal of the content. Owners of registered copyrights can also record the works with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), enlisting CBP to help stop pirated products from entering the U.S.
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