Copyright

Answers to Common Legal Questions About True Stories, Copyrights, and Collaborations

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:27:03 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 3/17/2023 4:27:03 PM

There may be times throughout the writing and publishing process when you have legal questions or are advised to consult an attorney. Intellectual property attorney Greg Victoroff works with many writers on various legal needs and shares the three most common types of legal questions he gets: 1) privacy rights, 2) copyright law, and 3) writing collaborations. In this clip, Victoroff shares helpful advice regarding true stories and concerns around defamation, along with the benefits of registering copyright, and things to consider when entering into a writing collaboration.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AnswerstoCommonLegalQuestionsAboutTrueStoriesCopyrightsCollaborations.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Answers to Common Legal Questions About True Stories, Copyrights, and Collaborations

Author Learning Center — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:25:19 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Copyright by Author Learning Center on 3/17/2023 4:25:19 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AnswerstoCommonLegalQuestionsAboutTrueStoriesCopyrightsCollaborations.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

What Authors Should Do When They Suspect Their Work Has Been Plagiarized

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:50:04 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:50:04 PM

If you believe someone has plagiarized your work and you have already registered for a copyright, you have a distinct advantage, explains Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates. With a registered copyright, you’ll be able to recover attorney fees and statutory damages. However, if you haven’t already registered, don’t fret, says Victoroff. Go ahead and register (you can expedite the process, with a fee), and file a lawsuit. Few copyright lawsuits actually end up going to trial; if your attorney detects substantial similarities between the two works, a cease and desist letter will be sent to the offender. If the recipient doesn’t want to back down, his or her attorney and yours will negotiate and hopefully resolve the dispute quickly.

The material contained in this video is NOT legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client or other confidential relationship between the User and the Author Learning Center. Users should contact an attorney in their jurisdiction for legal advice regarding their particular situation.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../WhatAuthorsShouldDoWhenTheySuspectTheirWorkHasBeenPlagiarized.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

The Criteria and Limits of Fair Use in Copyright Law

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:49:28 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:49:28 PM

Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates, believes the phrase “we are all dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants” applies well to authors, who learn from the great writers who came before them. It is only natural that today’s authors would find inspiration from writers such as Shakespeare, Lord Byron, and Mary Shelley. That’s why, under fair use, copyrighted materials can be used by writers in certain situations. If an author is critiquing or commenting on a copyrighted work, or using it for scholarship research, this is considered legal. Still, Victoroff advises authors to consult with an attorney and refer to Cornell University’s fair use checklist.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheCriteriaandLimitsofFairUseinCopyrightLaw.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

The Benefits of Registering the Copyright for an Author’s Work

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:45:26 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/11/2019 4:45:26 PM

A copyright comes into existence at the moment of creation, explains Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates. This is a federal ruling in the United States which means that as soon as an author writes down their words, those words are protected by copyright. Authors may go a step further and register their copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office. Once a registration is accepted and filed, the copyright owner is able to file lawsuits and recover statutory damages and attorney’s fees, in the case of a trial. There’s no reason not to register for a copyright, says Victoroff. It is one of the most economical ways to protect your intellectual property.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheBenefitsofRegisteringtheCopyrightforanAuthorsWork.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

The Benefits of Registering the Copyright for an Author’s Work

Greg Victoroff, Esq. — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 16:12:53 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Copyright by Greg Victoroff, Esq. on 11/8/2019 4:12:53 PM

A copyright comes into existence at the moment of creation, explains Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates. This is a federal ruling in the United States, and means that as soon as an author writes down their words, those words are protected by copyright. Authors may go a step further and register their copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office. Once a registration is accepted and filed, the copyright owner is able to file lawsuits and recover statutory damages attorney’s fees, in the case of a trial. There’s no reason not to register for a copyright, says Victoroff. It is one of the most economical ways to protect your intellectual property.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../TheBenefitsofRegisteringtheCopyrightforanAuthorsWork.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Publishing Your Book - Understanding Foreign Rights - podcast

Mary Bisbee-Beek — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 21:20:19 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Mary Bisbee-Beek on 11/15/2018 9:20:19 PM

Author and Publicist, Mary Bisbee-Beek, explains foreign rights and how that can effect your book and your royalties. Foreign rights are generally when your work is sold internationally. It may not be the most profitable part of your sales plan, but it certainly may help your brand and your profile. Each country and region has its own quirks and market spaces. Having a publicist who knows foreign markets may help you in your writing career and help your book gain more momentum. In the clip below, Bisbee-Beek will explain her role as a publicist and you may decide whether or not selling in foreign markets is something you want to do.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../PublishingYourBookUnderstandingForeignRights.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Publishing Your Book - Understanding Foreign Rights - video

Mary Bisbee-Beek — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 21:19:45 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Mary Bisbee-Beek on 11/15/2018 9:19:45 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../PublishingYourBookUnderstandingForeignRights.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Insuring You Have the Rights to Photos in Your Book - video

Lee Klancher — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 14:17:25 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Lee Klancher on 11/6/2018 2:17:25 PM

Lee Klancher, publisher at Octane Press, discusses using photos from the internet in your book. The key to this is remembering that the rights of a photo belong always to the photographer. It’s relatively easy to find (1) find the photographer and (2) pay for the rights to the photo. This doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor, but is important in order to keep the author from copyright infringement. In order to find out more about cover design and photography, listen to the short clip below!

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../InsuringYouHavetheRightstoPhotosinYourBook.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Insuring You Have the Rights to Photos in Your Book - podcast

Lee Klancher — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 14:16:44 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Lee Klancher on 11/6/2018 2:16:44 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../InsuringYouHavetheRightstoPhotosinYourBook.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Understanding Copyright - podcast

Jeff Silberman — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 17:06:43 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Jeff Silberman on 11/1/2018 5:06:43 PM

In this podcast, literary agent Jeff Silberman explains your copyright protection. Listen to hear answers to questions such as:

When do your copyright protections begin?
What are the advantages to registering your work with the United States Copyright Office?
How do your register with the copyright office?
Should I be concerned about people plagiarizing my work?

In this podcast, Jeff Silberman mentions the web address to the US Copyright Office. Click here to explore their services.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../PodcastATEJeffSilbermanUnderstandingCopyright.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Understanding Copyright - video

Jeff Silberman — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 17:06:16 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by Jeff Silberman on 11/1/2018 5:06:16 PM

In this video, literary agent Jeff Silberman explains your copyright protection. Watch to hear answers to questions such as:

When do your copyright protections begin?
What are the advantages to registering your work with the United States Copyright Office?
How do your register with the copyright office? Should I be concerned about people plagarizing my work?

In this podcast, Jeff Silberman mentions the web address to the US Copyright Office. Click here to explore their services.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../JeffSilbermanUnderstandingCopyrightNEWNEW.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, video

Understanding Copyright - podcast

Jeff Silberman — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 17:04:23 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Copyright by Jeff Silberman on 11/1/2018 5:04:23 PM

In this podcast, literary agent Jeff Silberman explains your copyright protection. Listen to hear answers to questions such as:

When do your copyright protections begin?
What are the advantages to registering your work with the United States Copyright Office?
How do your register with the copyright office?
Should I be concerned about people plagiarizing my work?

In this podcast, Jeff Silberman mentions the web address to the US Copyright Office. Click here to explore their services.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../PodcastATEJeffSilbermanUnderstandingCopyright.mp3

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber, podcast

Steps for Filing for a Copyright - article

R.J. Lee — Thu, 10 May 2018 14:10:21 GMT

Current Revision posted to Copyright by R.J. Lee on 5/10/2018 2:10:21 PM

Contrary to popular belief, you are the owner of your original work whether or not you file for a copyright. Unfortunately, if you don’t, it is difficult to prove ownership. Let’s say you’ve written the great American novel. It’s yours. You wrote it, you own it. A plagiarist decides to author a remarkably similar work with a slightly different title. He files for and receives a copyright. You discover his skullduggery and take him to court. You claim that he stole your masterpiece. He claims that any resemblance to your material is coincidental. He has a copyright. You don’t. Good luck.

Play it safe. Copyright everything you create. It’s quite easy to do. There are four basic steps to obtaining a copyright:

1. Visit the U.S. Copyright Office website to view a list of classifications. Determine what classification (music, art, literature etc.) your work fits into.

2. Request and fill out the copyright application. This can also be done online and will cost less and take less time to receive your certificate.

3. Print and mail the application along with the registration fee and a copy of your original work (or do it online.) Your work will then be filed with the Library of Congress. Fees vary depending on how your registration is submitted.

4. Sit and wait to receive your certificate of registration. If you file online, the wait is about seven months on average; by mail, the wait is sixteen months on average.

Again, whether you file for a copyright or not, you do own your original work. However, by making it “official” and having your masterpiece filed with the Library of Congress, you are taking the most effective step available to protect yourself against theft. And, it’s not just theft of your entire work. There have been numerous violations of copyright wherein selective passages from one author’s work have turned up in that of another’s. One of the most famous incidents of this sort involved Pulitzer Prize winning author Alex Haley’s 1976 classic, Roots.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Steps for Filing a Copyright - article

R.J. Lee — Thu, 10 May 2018 13:57:00 GMT

Revision 5 posted to Copyright by R.J. Lee on 5/10/2018 1:57:00 PM

Play it safe. Copyright everything you create. It’s quite easy to do. There are four basic steps to obtaining a copyright:

1. Visit the U.S. Copyright Office website to view a list of classifications. Determine what classification (music, art, literature etc.) your work fits into.

2. Request and fill out the copyright application. This can also be done online and will cost less and take less time to receive your certificate.

4. Sit and wait to receive your certificate of registration. If you file online, the wait is about seven months on average; by mail, the wait is sixteen months on average.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Steps for Filing Copyright - article

R.J. Lee — Thu, 10 May 2018 13:56:34 GMT

Play it safe. Copyright everything you create. It’s quite easy to do. There are four basic steps to obtaining a copyright:

1. Visit the U.S. Copyright Office website to view a list of classifications. Determine what classification (music, art, literature etc.) your work fits into.

2. Request and fill out the copyright application. This can also be done online and will cost less and take less time to receive your certificate.

4. Sit and wait to receive your certificate of registration. If you file online, the wait is about seven months on average; by mail, the wait is sixteen months on average.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Steps for Filing Copyright - article

R.J. Lee — Thu, 10 May 2018 13:52:45 GMT

Play it safe. Copyright everything you create. It’s quite easy to do. There are four basic steps to obtaining a copyright:

1. Visit the U.S. Copyright Office website to view a list of classifications. Determine what classification (music, art, literature etc.) your work fits into. To save you time, note that the literary classification requires Form TX.

2. Request and fill out the copyright application. This can also be done online and will cost less and take less time to receive your certificate.

4. Sit and wait to receive your certificate of registration. If you file online, the wait is about three months on average; by mail, the wait is sixteen months on average.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Copyright Development and the Internet - article

Michael Esser — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 09:16:05 GMT

Many new writers worry about protecting their work, especially when they plan to post it on the Internet. They wonder whether they should copyright their work but often aren't sure what copyrighting entails. So what basics should you know, avoid, and consider when assessing the copyright laws?

According to the U.S. Copyright office, a work is protected by copyright laws the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form. A tangible form is a form that is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. As soon as your original work is created in a real, identifiable form like the text of a blog or website, a photo, or a video, it is protected automatically by copyright law. As the creator of this work you don't need to display a copyright symbol or do anything special. Copyright protection exists upon the creation of the work. Nonetheless, it is prudent to have a copyright notice posted at the end of your work. For images and videos you can add watermarks or include your copyright in the alt text.

Whether you think of it as a deterrent or the equivalent of a “No Trespassing” sign, it's a good business practice to include a copyright notice on everything you create. Conversely, it is possible for you to infringe on the rights of others, particularly when you find exactly what you need in another online source. In this instance, you may be able to use the content under the “Fair Use” Doctrine. This doctrine doesn't allow you to copy the entire piece, but you can legally use a short excerpt from it. It's always a good idea to cite the source of the excerpt with a link to the original document in order to reassure the copyright owner of your honorable intentions and to make your piece look well-researched. Bear in mind that others can use your content under this same rule.

Generally speaking its best to assume that everything is copyrighted – remember, once it’s in fixed format, the creator owns it. So even if you intend to use the “Fair Use” Doctrine, consider getting permission from the creator first… if you can find them. In today’s world of sharing all things socially and researching primarily online… it’s hard to tell if the poster of the content is actually the creator, even if he or she claims to be.

In terms of your own content, you can make it easier for others to find you and get your permission to use your content (or at least cite you as a source) if you copyright everything you create, especially if you post it online. Copyright it using your name or your company name, as appropriate. Include the copyright in a document’s header or footer and then create a PDF of the document so it can’t be edited. With graphics, imbed the copyright in the image itself, not just in the image’s byline. Then, if others play by the rules they’ll reach out to you or at least mention you as a source when they repost the content. If not, at least others can see the imbedded copyrights for themselves and recognize you as the original source. Depending on how someone else reposts your content, they may actually cite you as the source. If so, you can be notified of that by setting up a Google alert for your name or company name. Google will then tell you every the name shows up on the internet.

Are there other ways to keep track of whether someone has used your copyrighted content? If you are an individual or small business, you'll probably only find out about an infraction by accident, by searching for your own content and coming across the copycat, or you maybe by being tipped off by an existing customer. You can hire a company like FairShare or Copyscape to help you track your web pages and scan for violations. These services make it possible for small businesses like yours to find and confront the plagiarist who threatens your brand.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Steps for Filing Copyright - article

R.J. Lee — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 16:00:53 GMT

Play it safe. Copyright everything you create. It’s quite easy to do. There are four basic steps to obtaining a copyright:

2. Request and fill out the copyright application. This can also be done online.

3. Print and mail the application along with a $20.00 registration fee and a copy of your original work (or do it online.) Your work will then be filed with the Library of Congress.

4. Sit and wait to receive your certificate of registration. If you file online, the wait is about three months; by mail, the wait is up to ten months.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Utilizing Photos Online - Rights and Protections - video

Lee Klancher — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 11:21:26 GMT

When you need an image for your author website or blog, you may be tempted to grab the first image in your search results. But that's a mistake that could get you into legal trouble. So, which images can you use on your website or blog? Lee Klancher, publisher at Octane Press, suggests looking for images that use creative commons. You can usually find these images online by searching for your image subject plus the words "creative commons." When posting the image, you simply need to give credit to the photographer or website where you found it. To protect your own images online, you can place a watermark over the image. Avoid sharing an image you want to protect on social media website such as Facebook, because in the act of posting the image you give Facebook the right to use the photograph.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../UtilizingPhotosOnlineRightsandProtections.mp4

Tags: Arts and Photography, Nonfiction, video