Copyright Law Attorney

Creative works such as songs, art, writings, and films can be hard to protect, especially with the prevalence of digital media. As soon as a work is uploaded to the internet, users often copy it relentlessly, meaning the original creator may face an uphill battle obtaining credit for the work or monetizing the work. Many people see no reason to pay for works that they can easily obtain free of cost.

Situations like this show why it is important to be aware of copyright law. Your work is your own, and utilizing the protections of the Copyright Act can help you ensure that your works remain your own and you receive damages when others have infringed on your copyright. Unauthorized distribution of a copyrighted work is an infringement on a copyright owner’s intellectual property rights. Thankfully, holding violators accountable can discourage others from doing the same. However, these laws can be complex and necessitate the help of a knowledgeable copyright law attorney. The Dallas copyright lawyer at the Peacock Law Firm PLLC can help you understand and exercise your rights under copyright law.

Protections in the Copyright Act

The Copyright Act grants protection to a wide range of material, which include the following:

• Literary works
• Musical works
• Dramatic works
• Pantomime and choreographic works
• Pictorial, graphic and sculptural works
• Motion pictures and other audiovisual works
• Sound recordings
• Computer software
• Architectual works

The Copyright Act grants to authors the exclusive right to:

• Reproduce the copyrighted work
• Prepare derivative works based upon the copyright work
• Distribute copies of the copyrighted work
• Perform the copyrighted work publicly
• Display the copyrighted work publicly
• Sound recording (perform publicly by means of digital audio transmission)

Unless given explicit permission, only the owner of a copyright is allowed to perform any of the exclusive rights during the copyright’s life. For a work published after 1977, the copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. If, however, the work is a work for hire, has been specifically commissioned, was published anonymously or under a pseudonym, then the copyright lasts between 95 and 120 years, depending upon the date that the work was published.

The attorney at Peacock Law Firm PLLC can help you prepare and file a copyright application to register your copyright in the U.S. Copyright Office. He has successfully obtained many copyright registrations for clients – from copyrights in books and music to game instruction and software. He would be delighted to assist you.

Further, if someone is infringing upon your copyright or has sued you for copyright infringement, the attorney can represent you in the litigation.

Contact a Copyright Law Attorney

If you desire to register a copyright, or if someone infringed upon your copyright contact a copyright law attorney from the Peacock Law Firm PLLC by calling (214) 617-1000 or by sending an email to learn more about your options.