With subtleties aplenty, copyright law is a complicated area of business practice. However, when an entrepreneur can assert value in their copyrighted material, a business can reap considerable benefits as well. Copyrights also allow business owners to use the law as a shield to protect and preserve their previously created intellectual property.
Are Copyrights Relevant For Your Business?
Copyrights cover original works related to musical, dramatic, and literary works. Motion pictures, architectural creations, and graphic illustrations are also covered under copyright law. On the other hand, copyright law does not relate to ideas, facts, titles, slogans, or processes.
An owner of a copyright has the exclusive ability to reproduce their work or create derivative products or works based on the original, copyrighted material.
Who is Considered To Be An Author of a Work?
A common question which arises in the world of copyrights is: when is a person considered to be an author of the work- artistic, creative, or otherwise?
When a person contributes to an original work, they are ordinarily considered an author. There are two key exceptions to this general rule. A person would not be considered an author when:
- The person is an employee acting within the normal bounds of their employment.
- The person is an independent contractor who operates under a contract stating that their work products are the employer’s property.
How Does Tapley Law Serve Clients in Copyright Matters?
With eight years of experience serving clients who have copyright-related issues to solve, Tapley Law is uniquely suited to assist you and your business.
A key part of this analysis is understanding that copyrights have value both offensively and defensively. From drafting copyright licenses and assignments to negotiating software licenses, Attorney Tapley has walked alongside and advocated for clients in a wide variety of entrepreneurial industries. These copyrights are important both for protecting previously created works and for commercializing them to generate income.
If your business frequently uses contract labor, you may have questions about who owns any intellectual property created by an independent contractor. Our firm drafts employment agreements that place ownership of works created in the course of employment in your business. Additionally, if confidentiality and nondisclosure of sensitive information are required, we help entrepreneurs prevent valuable information from becoming public knowledge.
Contact Tapley Law Today For a Free Case Review
No matter your location, Tapley Law is here to provide assistance, advocacy, and results for you and your business in all matters related to copyrights. Copyrights are critical to maximizing the value of your creative works and future growth opportunities. Scaling your brand and creating new avenues for value creation mean taking care of the works you have put so much time and effort into.
Contact our office today to learn more about the services we offer to clients who need copyright solutions. We provide specialized, focused advice tailored to our clients’ needs and treat entrepreneurs as individuals.