Seattle Copyright Attorney

A copyright is a legal entitlement that protects original creations, including literature, music, poetry, film, computer software, architecture, and more. This protection applies to published and unpublished works. The copyright owner has the right to reproduce or distribute copies of their work and the freedom to develop derivative works based on it. Never

The purpose of this protection is to encourage creative activity by giving creators an incentive to produce new works by preventing others from copying their creations without permission. By providing such an incentive, society benefits through new creations that otherwise would not exist—a copyright attorney can help safeguard your ideas and work.

Contact Seattle IP lawyer Practus LLP today at 206-494-0020 to learn how we can help you safeguard your ideas and accomplish your goals.

Copyright Registering and Filing Process

Even though you own the copyright automatically to any original work that you create, it is still wise to register your works with the government. Filing a copyright registration can provide several benefits that include:

  1. The copyright becomes a part of the public record. A registered copyright is published in the U.S. Copyright Office’s searchable database. Therefore, it can be easily found by potential users of the copyrighted work, thereby providing evidence that it has been legally protected against infringement. Additionally, a registration certificate provides concrete evidence of the validity of your copyright protection whenever it becomes necessary.
  2. You can pursue legal action against someone who violates your copyright. If you do not register your copyright, your legal options are limited since you cannot file a lawsuit in the event of an infringement.
  3. You can be eligible for greater compensation for damages incurred due to copyright infringement. If you fail to register your copyright, the only damages you can recover are actual damages, which may be minimal or nonexistent. If you successfully register your copyright, on the other hand, and prove infringement, you are entitled to statutory damages and attorneys’ fees.

For the best results in navigating the copyright registration and filing process, contact an experienced copyright attorney. At TBillick Law PLLC, we can help you decide whether your work is eligible for registration and assist you in the process of filing. We can also provide valuable advice about safeguarding your rights as a creator and maximizing compensation in cases of infringement or breach of contract.

Further, we can assist you with copyright prosecution, which involves monitoring your registration to ensure it remains valid and enforceable. If there are any problems with your copyright registration, we can help you address them before they become major issues.

Copyright Infringement

Copyright infringement is a serious offense that can result in fines and jail time. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 lists the penalties for copyright infringement. The DMCA specifies that if someone willfully infringes on anyone’s copyrighted work, they could be subject to fines up to $500,000 or up to five years in prison. The DMCA also specifies that if someone is found to be willfully infringing on someone’s copyrighted work and they are found to have done it for commercial advantage or financial gain, the penalties can increase. The person could be subject to fines of up to $1 million per count of infringement or up to ten years in prison.

Dealing with a situation involving copyright infringement can be tricky, but you don’t have to worry about it alone. Seattle copyright attorney TBillick Law PLLC can help you navigate the system and protect your work from copyright infringement. If you suspect someone has violated your copyrighted work—whether it’s a picture, music, software application, or any other creation—and you’re unclear about how to proceed, contact us immediately.

Contact the Seattle Copyright Attorney at TBillick Law PLLC

Seattle copyright attorney Tim Billick specializes in copyright protection and other matters of intellectual property protection, such as trademark registration, patent prosecution, and intellectual property disputes.

If you’re interested in protecting your intellectual property, we can help you register your creative work with the U.S. Copyright Office. We’ll also help you with copyright infringement disputes if you need to take action against someone infringing on your rights.

If you have creative works that require copyright protection and would like to discuss your protection objectives, options, or any other intellectual property matter, contact Practus LLP at 206-494-0020 or use our convenient online form to request a consultation.

We proudly serve the residents of Seattle, Bellevue, Bellingham, Tacoma, Olympia, and the surrounding areas in Washington.