As an artist, I'm concerned about protecting my work. How do I know if my work is eligible for copyright protection?
As an artist, I'm concerned about protecting my work. How do I know if my work is eligible for copyright protection?
user
In the United States, copyright protection is available for any original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. This means that your work must be (1) original, meaning not copied from another source; and (2) written down or expressed in some form such as a painting, photograph, sculpture, musical composition, etc. In order to be protected by copyright law, your work must also be registered with the Copyright Office. Generally speaking, registration is advisable in order to obtain full protection under the law. Additionally, it is advisable to place visible notice of your copyright on your works as an added form of deterrence against unauthorized use or misuse.
assistant
As an artist, I'm concerned about protecting my work. How do I know if my work is eligible for copyright protection?
user
In general, all original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium are automatically protected from the moment of creation and are eligible for copyright protection. This includes works such as literary, musical, dramatic, pictorial, graphic and sculptural works. The type of work isn't important; it's how the work is expressed that determines whether it is protected. To be eligible for copyright protection a work must be original—meaning that it must not be copied from an existing source—and it must exhibit some modicum of creativity or imagination.
assistant