Hi everyone,
I have searched for copyright posts on here trying to find an answer to my question... are Copyrights for designs worth getting? But it all seems to go back and forth... i'd really like to get your personal opinions on the issue... Copyrights....worth it, or not?
YES, YES AND YES!!! You will most likely be ripped off at some point (it's happened to me a few times), wouldn't be great to contact the offender with the law (and rights) on YOUR side?! You worked hard to make the design, don't 'give it away' by ignoring your rights as the designer, I say copyright it.
But isn't getting a copyright on a design, not to mention hundreds of designs, very expensive? And if you do get a copyright and someone infringes - getting it through the legal system will be added expense? And that's for a single design. Perhaps watermarking the image will be a better recourse?
There is a local printer that puts his name &number at the bottom of all his designs(real small). The cost of copyright expenses will add up and legal fees too. He told me this shows the design is his and where people can find him. I hope this suggestion helps............... good luck .... JB
But isn't getting a copyright on a design, not to mention hundreds of designs, very expensive?
No, registering a copyright on a design is relatively cheap. Doing it individually on a number of designs is indeed expensive (that is, it adds up), but on the other hand doing it in groups with bunches of designs at a time bound into one work, is again relatively cheap.
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Originally Posted by rustyrobot
And if you do get a copyright and someone infringes - getting it through the legal system will be added expense?
Absolutely. It might be worth registering your copyright even if you have no intention of starting legal action (in case someone sues you for infringement and you need to prove you came up with the design first for example), but it might just be a big waste of money.
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Originally Posted by rustyrobot
Perhaps watermarking the image will be a better recourse?
Watermarking isn't really a recourse at all.
Registering copyright is definitely a choice, and not a must-have. If someone infringes on your work there are several routes you can choose ranging from being prepared in advance to sue them, taking action from that point if the issue is serious enough, or ignoring it and getting on with your life.
There's nothing wrong with not caring or not really thinking the whole thing is worth worrying about (it can just be more hassle than it's worth), but if you want to be legally protected registration is the only really viable option.
Of course, If you guys have some really good, unique designs, register it, after that, yr customers will always make orders from you cause they can't find the same designs anywhere else. That is simple and clear.
Hi Lewis, thanks for the very enlightening input.
Do you know any reputable web site that deals with the process of copyrighting designs? Does it apply to worldwide or only the USA? If it's cheap then maybe it will be worth copyrighting a few select designs. And it will help deter those pesky thieves especially if you put in your web site that you have sued someone for lifting your design and the guy is now living in abject poverty.
But it all seems to go back and forth... i'd really like to get your personal opinions on the issue... Copyrights....worth it, or not?
What you've read is what the varying personal opinions are They go back and forth on whether it's worth it or not.
It's good to protect your work in whatever way you can, but you just have to be ready to defend it if the work does get stolen. Defending it takes money (legal expenses). So if you don't have the money to register it, it might be a challenge to come up with the money to defend it.
* a completed application Form VA and Form CON if needed.
* a $45 payment to "Register of Copyrights."
* nonreturnable copy(ies) of the material to be registered. Read details on deposit requirements.
It's neither difficult or expensive. Don't confuse copyright with a registered trademark.
Edit: This is for a US copyright.
Last edited by Moo Spot Prints; February 26th, 2007 at 11:24 AM.
Reason: US Copyright only
It's neither difficult or expensive. Don't confuse copyright with a registered trademark
But if you have dozens of designs, then even at $45 per design, it could get costly for some.
I agree that in general, copyrights aren't that expensive, but I can understand why someone with dozens or even hundreds of designs might be worried about paying a fee for each design.
But if you have dozens of designs, then even at $45 per design, it could get costly for some.
True. That's why you work one of your registered copyrighted works into each new design.
Remember that anything you create that's original is automatically covered by US copyright law. Anything you write, anything you draw -- anything that is an original work of authorship is protected. Defending it as original work is definitely harder without registration, but it's not impossible.
Is it worth it? Only you can decide that. If you're doing 100 shirts, probably not. It makes sense if you're running a national brand launch or something big. However, if you use a printer that likes to pilfer designs, it might be a worthwhile investment.
Like Rodney said, if you can't afford the registration fee, you probably can't afford to litigate a claim.
Remember that anything you create that's original is automatically covered by US copyright law. Anything you write, anything you draw -- anything that is an original work of authorship is protected. Defending it as original work is definitely harder without registration, but it's not impossible.
It's also good to note that in order to get any legal damages from a copyright infringement claim, you have to officially register the copyright.
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Is it worth it? Only you can decide that. If you're doing 100 shirts, probably not. It makes sense if you're running a national brand launch or something big. However, if you use a printer that likes to pilfer designs, it might be a worthwhile investment.
Copyrights....worth it? 
They go back and forth on whether it's worth it or not.
