Why copyright protection is important for your intellectual property strategy

by | Nov 24, 2014 | Intellectual Property

First, copyright is one of the prongs of general intellectual property rights/strategies which include patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secret agreements, and/or licensing agreements. A specific combination of those strategies assure that no other entity can steal an entrepreneurial venture’s secret sauce which could include their goods, look and feel, artwork, and how to documents such as operations manuals. All of these in relevant part create value.
Second, copyright and other protections create intangible assets which can significantly increase the value of any company. For example, IBM has reported near $4 billion intangible assets under ownership.
Third, if you or your company wishes to ever sell its continuing concern or assets, they should note that the acquirer almost always conducts due diligence which include: determining that the potential acquired company owns their property and have taken steps to secure that property.

The EmergeCounsel approach to copyright

In order to preserve financial resources, formal Copyright protection can be conducted in tandem between the client and EmergeCounsel attorneys. This is much easier to do as a low cost option because the process is relatively simple.
Of course, it is important to file the correct filing. Using the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet as well as assuring that relevant work-for-hire agreements are entered into with relevant consultants.

Instructions for using Copyright Office filing:

1) Log into uscopyright.gov.
2) Under User Log In (middle left column), check Click Here to Register.
3) Under Copyright Services click Register a New Claim
4) Click Start Registration
5) Insert Type of Work in the middle, bottom (this Information will be provided to you in the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet)
6) Click New in the middle left column
7) “Title Type” and “Title of the Work” will be provided to you in the Emerge Counsel Copyright Client Worksheet
8) Enter additional titles (if applicable)
9) Click Continue (upper middle column)
10) Enter if the work has been published (lower middle column). (This information will be provided to you in the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet)
11) Click Continue
12) Enter the Year of Completion (This information will be provided to you in the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet)
13) Click Continue
14) Enter Date of First Publication, Nation of First Publication (This information will be provided to you in the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet)
15) Enter the “Author” name (if it is you, Click Add Me) (This information will be provided to you in the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet)
16) Click Continue
17) Click Save
18) Enter the Author Name or Organization Name (This information will be provided to you in the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet)
19) Enter Citizenship or Domicile but not both
20) Click Save
21) Click the Contribution Type (This information will be provided to you in the EmergeCounsel Copyright Client Worksheet)
22) Click Save
23) Click Continue and repeat the process if there is additional copyrights
24) Either Add the Claimant or Add Me
25) If there is preexisting material, enter the registration number and year
26) Click Continue
27) You may designate an agent (optional-you may consult EmergeCounsel to determine if this is a good idea)
28) Click Continue
29) Enter contact information
30) Click Continue
31) Enter certificate information
32) Unless you require special handling, click Continue
33) Enter the name of the Certifying Individual
34) Review the Information
35) Click Checkout (upper right corner)
36) Click Payment Method, Enter Credit Card etc.
Learn more about copyright strategy as part of your overall intellectual property strategy by visiting our Intellectual Property Protection page.

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