Hiring an independent contractor can help your business grow, but paying for creative work does not automatically give you ownership of the intellectual property involved. In many cases, ownership depends on the law and the agreement you have with the contractor. Here...
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Intellectual Property
When a company uses someone’s likeness without permission
People in the entertainment industry, including actors, musicians and popular influencers, often develop brands that reflect their personality and appearance. The people who enjoy their brand may express that by patronizing businesses that offer the entertainment...
Is licensing a song to another musician beneficial?
Musicians are often defensively proud of their original creations. Even those who work with songwriters and studios as the recording artist for another party’s song tend to feel a sense of ownership when they release a song that connects with the public. Popular,...
When your IP gets copied overseas, can you sue from Florida?
You spent the time, money and creative focus building something original, only to find it ripped off across the globe. Maybe it’s your music streaming on a site you have never heard of, your logo slapped on knockoff products or your software copied and sold under...
Is formal registration necessary to copyright works?
Copyright protections are beneficial for businesses and creative professionals. Those who purchase creative works, hire creative professionals or produce original works can register their creations with the United States Copyright Office. Federal copyright protection...
3 necessary steps when dealing with trademark infringement
A trademark is an image or logo that represents a company's brand. Trademarks help consumers identify a company's premises or products on store shelves. The process of registering a trademark involves careful research and gives the business sole control over the...
Handling an international copyright violation
Domestic copyright protections are very important. They protect creative professionals and businesses from other parties monetizing or otherwise devaluing original works. The United States Copyright Office maintains a record of copyrighted works that can benefit those...
3 important inclusions in a copyright licensing agreement
Establishing copyright protections is important for creative professionals and businesses. Through either publication or formal registration, a party invested in original creative works can protect those works from use or distribution by other parties. The more...
How long do copyright protections typically last?
Copyright protections are a means of ensuring that the intellectual property of one person remains under their control. Writers, photographers and graphic artists rely on copyright protection to maintain control over their work and to find ways to profit off of their...
Do musical or literary allusions violate copyright rules?
Investing in creative content can be a major business expense. Whether an organization acquires original musical compositions or literary works, creators often want competitive compensation to give up the rights to their original works, and keeping creators on staff...