Dallas-Fort Worth Copyright Lawyers

Copyright Protection in Texas & throughout the U.S.

Copyright law protects creative works such as books, poems, plays, movies, music, photos, art, architectural designs, and even computer programs.

Registering the copyright of your intellectual property enables you to more easily protect your works. Registration is a must to most effectively sue those who are copying your work.

At Norred Law, our Dallas-Fort Worth copyright lawyers are ready to help you seek a copyright. We are passionate about seeing our clients and their businesses thrive after obtaining copyrights.

Understanding Copyright Law

While U.S. and international courts allow you to sue for infringement if someone copies your unregistered works, copyright registration with the Library of Congress (or the WIPO) raises the stakes against those who might attempt to steal your work. Statutory damages and the potential award of attorney fees are not allowed for unregistered works.

At Norred Law, we can help you understand:

• How to protect your creative works. Sometimes a creative work can and should be protected in multiple ways. Architects and engineers, for example, may choose to seek both trademark and copyright protection for different aspects of a set of building designs.
• Where you need to protect your intellectual property. In our interconnected world, your creative works travel more freely than you do. They need to be protected in the U.S. and across the globe. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) is the vehicle for ensuring international copyright protection across about 100 countries. Despite the existence of this treaty, however, U.S. and European copyright law still differ (and the deviations can be even more significant in other countries).
• How to maximize the value of your creative work. Copyright licensing agreements and distribution agreements are two methods for expanding the reach of your work and maximizing your profit.
• From whom to protect your creative assets. Creative industries often hire artists, writers, and composers as independent contractors for the creation of creative work. Properly drafted work-for-hire agreements ensure that your company owns the intellectual property created at your direction and on your dime.