Summary
Your work is valuable. But one mistake in the application process with the Copyright
Office can invalidate your registration. Make sure your copyright registration
is done right by using a licensed attorney.
Did you know that, in a copyright infringement suit involving the rock band Nirvana, a federal appeals court invalidated a registration due to a mistake in the copyright application process? [link to Racquel v. Education Management Corp., 196 F.3d 171 (3d Cir. 1999)]
Did you know that, in an infringement suit involving the Beavis and Butthead characters from MTV, a federal appeals court invalidated a registration because of a mistake in the copyright application process? [link to: Kodadek v. MTV Networks, Inc., 152 F.3d 1209 (9th Cir. 1998)]
Did you know that, in a case involving the infringement of popular Halloween outfits, a federal appeals court invalidated the plaintiff’s copyrights because of a mistake in the registration forms? [link to Whimsicality, Inc. v. Rubie’s Costume Co., Inc., 891 F.2d 452 (2d Cir. 1989)]
Don’t let this happen to your artistic creations. Register, and register right.
Copyright Registration: Getting It Done Right
1) You can find cheap mass services to register your copyright, but they frequently operate without any attorney oversight. Given how much you invest in the creation of your works, it is critical to make sure your copyright registration is done correctly to maximize your intellectual property rights.
a. Carefully consider who you use to register your copyright: A material misrepresentation, even one that is inadvertent or unintentional, could invalidate a registration.
b. It is critical to take care in selecting who handles your copyright registration. As a law firm with attorneys with extensive copyright backgrounds, we will handle your registration with a precision and accuracy that reflects our intricate knowledge of federal copyright law.
2) By law, only an attorney can provide you with legal advice and services—advice
and services necessary should you ever need to go after an infringer of your
copyrighted work. We provide you with a free one hour consultation on your legal
rights if you ever find that someone is violating your copyrights.