It is your responsibility to protect your artwork.
You don't have to register a work of art in the U.S. because it is automatically protected by copyright law when it's created.The Copyright Office should protect your work.The work should be registered with the US.In the event that you have to defend your copyright, the Copyright Office can provide you with an official date on the public record you can point to to justify your claim.You can't file a lawsuit until you have your copyrighted work registered.
Step 1: To use eCO, you should prepare your computer.
The U.S. can be used to register most copyrighted works.The Copyright Office has an electronic registration system.To avoid technical problems during the registration process, you will need to make sure your computer is ready to run eCO.You can change your settings by disabling your browser's pop-up blocker.Don't use any third-party toolbars.To medium, set your security and privacy settings.The U.S. is located in the United States.The Copyright Office has tested the eCO system using the Firefox browser on the Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System and advises that other configurations may result in less-than-optimal performance.
Step 2: You should be familiar with the process of eCO.
If you would like an overview of how to use the eCO system to register your copyright, take some time and read through the presentation offered by the U.S.The office has a Copyright Office.The eCO system can be used to file your copyright registration.If you don't like the government's presentation, a number of other sites offer step-by-step instructions on how to use the eCO system.
Step 3: You need to complete the application.
You can open the eCO portal and create an account after you've gotten used to the process.To register a new claim, click on "Register a New Claim" on the left-hand side of the welcome page, and follow the prompts to provide the necessary information.The steps on the left-hand side will be checked as you complete the application.Your application is ready to be sent when all sections are checked.The amount of your filing fee will be displayed on this window when you have entered and reviewed all information for accuracy.Click "Checkout" to proceed to the payment step after reviewing the information.
Step 4: Pay the fee.
You can pay with several options.First, you have to enter your bank account information.You can pay with a credit card.Pay.gov is a website operated by the U.S. Treasury Department that handles payment to government agencies.
Step 5: A copy of your work should be deposited.
A copy of the work being registered to the U.S. is the final step in this process.The office has a Copyright Office.You can only deposit a copy through eCO for works that are published electronically.Click "continue" after paying the fee.You can put an electronic copy on the screen.If you have to send a physical copy of your work, click "create Shipping Slip" on the bottom of the screen, print the slip, attach it to the parcel, and send it.If you don't know the deposit requirements for your piece of work, contact the U.S.The office has a Copyright Office.
Step 6: All correspondence from the Copyright Office must be reviewed immediately.
You can get in touch with the Copyright Office by phone or e-mail.You should update your registration application as soon as possible if additional documentation is required.To make sure you don't miss anything, check your inbox.
Step 7: Follow up on your registration.
To check the status of your application, log in to eCO and click on the blue case number associated with your claim in the "Open Cases" table at the bottom of the screen.
Step 8: Understand the steps to register a Copyright.
There is a Copyright in the U.S.The Copyright Office has three basic steps, which include completing an application on paper or using the U.S.The Copyright Office's eCO registration system, as well as paying a fee, depositing a copy of the work being registered with the U.S., are required.The office has a Copyright Office.Your copyright will be registered once these steps are completed.
Step 9: Know the types of work that can be registered with eCO.
If you can, you will want to use eCO to register your copyright because using this electronic system results in the lowest filing fee, the fastest processing time, and the ability to deposit works directly online without having to mail them in separately.For detailed explanations of the above terms, consult the U.Different types of creative works are explained in the Copyright Office's guide.
Step 10: If your work has been published or not.
You cannot use eCO to register any single work, a collection of unpublished works by the same author, or multiple published works in a book of pictures.Depending on the publication status, you can either deposit a copy of your work electronically or mail it to the U.S.The office has a Copyright Office.If you have sold, rented, leased, or lent the work to the public, it will be published.If you have offered copies to another party for the purpose of further distribution, public performance, or public display, it is considered published.
Step 11: You know your rights.
Subject to specific limitations, the owner of a copyrighted work has the exclusive right to authorize someone else to reproduce the work.New works can be created by altering the original work, changing it to another form, or building on it.These are referred to as "derivative" works.Get copies of the work.You can display or perform the work.
Step 12: There are rights in the visual arts.
Subject to "fair use", an author of a work of visual art has additional rights of attribution and integrity for his or her lifetime, including the right to claim authorship.The author of a work has the right to prevent his or her work from being attributed to them.There are limited rights to prevent the intentional destruction of the work.
Step 13: Low-resolution images should be uploaded.
Many artists use the internet to promote their work.One way to protect against unauthorized use is to only use low-resolution images of your art.This allows you to promote your work online by showing people what you've made, while at the same time preventing less-than-reputable individuals from obtaining clear, full-size copies.
Step 14: There is a way to change the look of your images.
You can use an image editor to make a translucent mark on the image.Anyone who gets a copy will not be able to use it or distribute it without everyone knowing where it came from.When uploading an image, you can add your name to the file.If you are willing to add the necessary restrictions on customer access, there are other technical measures for marking your digital files with searchable markers.
Step 15: There should be a copyright notice added.
A psychological protection of your works can be obtained by placing a notice on them in a corner or other visible space.After your name and the year the work was created, use the copyright symbol.This should serve as a signal that the work is yours, and that you intend to protect it by the copyright that automatically triggered when you created it.
Step 16: Pursue removal of unauthorized copies.
Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the owner of a copyright may file an official notice for "takedown" of unauthorized copies being distributed on a server in the USA.The online service provider of the website must arrange for the timely removal of works if they want to avoid being sued.The online service provider can't be sued if they follow the required steps.If the service provider gets a proper counter-notification, the works may be restored online.The user would need to be sued for a federal restraining order.
Step 17: You should register your copyright.
You can register your copyright within a month if you have been unable to get them to stop.