| When artists create an article, book, poem, lyrics | | | | copyright laws of the United States of America |
| to a song, a Web site, logo or artwork, they may | | | | are stringent and strict and are put in place to |
| or may not copyright their work before posting it | | | | keep people from infringing on the rights of |
| online. The purpose of copyrighting any material is | | | | creators. However, when it comes to online |
| to protect it from being re-distributed without the | | | | material from books to music to art, the law is |
| creator's authorization. The reality, however, of | | | | not as widely understood as it is when applied to |
| putting copyrighted material online is that although | | | | “hard copy” material. Protecting |
| it is not impossible to protect, is still remains very | | | | copyrighted material online has been a very |
| difficult to protect. | | | | contentious issue since the Internet evolved. |
| Many people choose to register their work with | | | | The recording and movie industries have always |
| the copyright office for a fee before they post it | | | | struggled to shape their Internet strategies to |
| online. This gives them a sense of security that | | | | keep people from pirating their material. The law |
| they will have recourse if someone attempts to | | | | states that infringement is a criminal offense; |
| infringe on the material. Others, who don't wish to | | | | however, when copyrighted material is copied or |
| spend money for the copyrighting process, have | | | | downloaded from the Internet, it is often quite |
| a few options to protect their work online: | | | | difficult to prove. Chapter 5, Section 512 of the |
| 1. Creators can mail a copy of their work in | | | | copyright infringement and remedies rules and |
| a sealed envelope to themselves, securing what's | | | | regulations as defined by the copyright law of the |
| called a “common copyright.” The | | | | United States of America discusses the limitations |
| postmark on the unopened envelope will help | | | | on liability relating to material online. |
| establish the date the work was created and that | | | | Actually, U.S. copyright law protects works from |
| they were the original creators. They can then | | | | the moment of creation (or "conception") so all |
| claim all rights to the work. | | | | the details concern enforcement and, to a lesser |
| 2. Some writers and artists use the © | | | | extent, registration. The government copyright |
| symbol on articles (or ™ or ® on their | | | | form and recordkeeping allows the fastest, |
| company logos or names they have created for | | | | easiest means of copyright confirmation, although |
| their Web sites). Most people believe that this is | | | | the other mentioned methods work, too. |
| “enough” to copyright and protect work. | | | | One way to "catch" a person who has infringed |
| 3. Another way to protect copyrighted | | | | on copyright rights is to capture the IP address of |
| material online is to post it as a PDF file, with the | | | | the computer used to copy the work. Some |
| copyright information in the header or footer. This | | | | more savvy copyright owners have special |
| can serve as a strong deterrent for those trying | | | | network tools they use to identify the IP address |
| to infringe on the copyrighted material. | | | | of computers they believe have engaged in |
| 4. Many times, articles posted on blogs, for | | | | unlawful copyright infringement. It may be difficult |
| example, will state at the conclusion of the article, | | | | to identify the actual user based only on the IP |
| that the article is “copyrighted by (name).” | | | | address, as people often use computers in public |
| This statement may be followed by other | | | | locations such as libraries, schools, Internet |
| verbiage that permits or denies re-distribution and | | | | café's and offices where there are several |
| specifies the details of any such arrangement. | | | | computers all sharing the same IP address. Even |
| 5. Photographs that photographers do not | | | | when a person has been "caught" it can be |
| wish to be re-distributed will usually have a logo or | | | | difficult to send notice of possible copyright |
| a name in the center of the picture to keep | | | | infringement to the identified user of the IP |
| others from using the work, called | | | | connection. In addition, the IP addresses of |
| “watermarking” when it is light. | | | | computers often change. |
| 6. Some writers or artists create letters | | | | One can do his or her best to keep their online |
| stating that they are the legal copyright holder of | | | | material(s) from being copied, downloaded or |
| the work. They list their name and date on the | | | | shared without authorization; however, the laws |
| letter. They then have the letter notarized by a | | | | still need to become stronger and more widely |
| notary public. Most notaries only charge a small | | | | disseminated. The World Wide Web, although an |
| fee to do this and banks may offer the service | | | | incredible tool for communication and education, |
| free to account holders. | | | | still has some limitations as far as privacy and |
| The best way to protect your copyrighted | | | | protection of copyrighted material, but education |
| material once it is posted online is to be educated | | | | and continued oversight are proving quite |
| as to your rights as a writer or artist. The | | | | effective. |