The world of intellectual property is confusing to most. Individuals may not know that they have certain rights when it comes to the protection of the works they create. Those rights are referred to as copyright.
The rights that are provided under copyright are both moral rights as well as economic rights. Moral rights pertain specifically to the rights an author has to his or her work. They also extend to the right to oppose any changes another person might make to the work. Economic rights on the other hand, make it possible for the owner of those rights to obtain financial compensation from others using the works. A copyright may be transferred to another person or entity.
A variety of different types of works may be covered by copyright including film, sculpture, paintings, music and books. Other works that could be covered by copyright include technical drawings, maps, advertisements, databases and computer programs.
While it is possible to register for copyright protection of a work, readers may be interested to know that it is not necessary to exercise both moral and economic rights. Though in some situations registration could make it easier to exercise those rights, asserting them is possible either way.
In some situations the economic rights provided under copyright could be a primary source of income for the holder of the copyright. Accordingly, protecting those rights can be vital to the holder’s financial livelihood. In most cases this is best accomplished with the assistance of an intellectual property lawyer.
Consult an intellectual property attorney
When licensing trademarks, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property, consult an experienced intellectual property lawyer. An attorney knowledgeable about licensing, distributing, buying and selling intellectual property can help you protect and better manage your business assets and avoid potential lawsuits. Contact Brian J. Murphy today.
