I found this ad/link in an Entrepreneur's magazine and wondered if this would work for protecting our designs, etc. It says it works for graphic designs, as well as many other things.
It seems like it would be less expensive - protect 120 ideas/designs for only $29.95?
Is this too good to be true - or could it possibly work?
It looks like all this company does is record the date that your document is "stamped". It doesn't actually copyright your design, which is the only real way to even have a hope of protecting it.
It looks like all this company does is record the date that your document is "stamped". It doesn't actually copyright your design, which is the only real way to even have a hope of protecting it.
How can you prove that you were the first to come up with your idea without ever having to share your idea with anyone, even us? The Answer is StampYourDocuments.com. When you sign up for StampYourDocuments.com's service, you will be provided with an icon in Microsoft Word, plus an icon for any other file in your hard drive. Every time you click on that icon, a digital "fingerprint" of your file, as well as the exact date and time of the document you've created will be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Hmm...though upon further reading...while you can prove that you came up with it first...you still will not have filed an actual copyright with the Copyright office and thus might not be entitled to all the protection that one would receive from such filing.
Still, it's better than nothing.
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Last edited by Trimere_Ink; July 29th, 2007 at 07:10 PM.
Not by much. I don't think it will offer you much legal protection for your designs.
Plus, if you compare the pricing of the service to the costs of an actual copyright from the US Copyright office, it makes more sense just to get the real thing.
I just saw it and thought this was an easy answer, but I guess not.
And since reading the posts on the boards, I guess it's not really much of a big deal to get a copyright to your design, due to the fact if you have to sue someone over the use of it, it usually doesn't make any monetary sense... right?
I guess it's not really much of a big deal to get a copyright to your design, due to the fact if you have to sue someone over the use of it, it usually doesn't make any monetary sense... right?
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this.
But the only way you can get monetary damages for someone stealing your work is if you have an officially registered copyright.
But the only way you can get monetary damages for someone stealing your work is if you have an officially registered copyright.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've heard, let's say, someone uses your design without permission.
You then try and take this person to court for using the design. Once you tally up all the court costs, etc., it ends up costing more and more of a hassle than it's worth.
You can state in the law suite that the person you are suing will pay all Lawyers and Court fees. The issue with suing anyone is even if you get a judgment, collecting is a whole different story.
You then try and take this person to court for using the design. Once you tally up all the court costs, etc., it ends up costing more and more of a hassle than it's worth.
I think that will vary from person to person. How much "hassle" a person is willing to put up with to protect their designs is pretty relative.
But you're right, there is a lot involved in getting compensation for illegal uses of your work.
I think it's better to just go through the copyright office.
I have registered several how to kits and a graphic cd with the copyright office. The graphic cd has about 75 graphics on it the cost to register it was only $35 a few years ago.
You should be able to put your designs on a cd, give the cd a name and register it ALL as a collection for the 1 fee.
However, if you want you can also register them individually if you feel they will be very popular for even more protection.
In my kits i have 2 designs that have proven to be a sort after item. I therefore plan to register them individually too for more weight as after several years I still have people trying to get the 2 designs (without paying for them) and I've caught 1 person selling a copy similar to mine (very poor copy) so i know these 2 designs need to be registered by themselves.
I see no reason not to go directly to the source "the copyright office". You can put as may design as will fit on a cd and supply a printed copy to go with the cd so there's really no reason to use such a company.
Hey Angela, if you find yourself with a few moments to spare in a day, I think that would make a very informative article/write up.
How you went through the copyright process, what forms you used, what proofs you sent with the work, how long it took, what communication you received back from the copyright office (certificate?).
Hey Angela, if you find yourself with a few moments to spare in a day, I think that would make a very informative article/write up.
How you went through the copyright process, what forms you used, what proofs you sent with the work, how long it took, what communication you received back from the copyright office (certificate?).
Hi Rodney,
Sounds like a great idea. I'll look into getting something written up as you suggest.
Found this link - protect your designs? 
