ADVOCATE

Originally, authors, journalists and individuals involved in printing and publishing found a specific need to protect their work from unauthorized copies. This began nearly from the early days of printing presses. Thus, legislation was first passed in England during the 18th century which confirmed the right to retain ownership of original works and required permission to make copies. Hence, the name “copyright” came to be recognized as the right of writers, musicians, photographers and all proprietary drawings, i.e., maps, engineering and architectural, as well as many scientific formulas, hi-technology and recordings to retain full ownership if their work held a copyright.

Historically, prior to copyright laws, valuable documents and literary works could be freely copied, altered or reinterpreted without the consent of the original author. Authorities pursuing legislation based their opinions on natural laws of ownership in conjunction with the right to copyright their work and defined literary piracy in clearer terms. Huge profits were made prior to copyright laws whenever reprints were made. These profits often bypassed owners of originals.

Eventually, in 1886, copyright laws were agreed upon internationally and reaffirmed again in 1952. Numerous disputes of ownership would have occurred in the earliest days of printing history without specific guidelines. At present, copyright laws clearly define rights and help avoid lengthy disputes. In addition, copyright laws also protect the consumer. Copyright laws vary in terms of copyright renewal, length of time a copy right applies and eligibility for a copyright. Copyrights can be transferred with permission of the holder of the copyright. Most professionals who create original works consider copyright an important step in establishing their reputations.

Creative Commons explained in non-technical terms, is a licensing committee that allows people who create works of art to allow others certain uses for their work which can include the ability to edit or re use for either commercial or non-commercial purposes. As of right now there are four different levels of licensing that a creator can grant. And they are:

Attribution – This is most common of the four and this license allows users to make editions to the creators work. Usually there is a stipulation that the design by link stay in the footer of the page.

Share alike – Under this type of license any changes to the works must become licensed under the original license.

No derivatives – Doesn’t allow any type of modification at all.

Non-Commercial – Means that works can be used for informational or personal purposes but not for any type of commercial uses.

These licenses can pretty much apply to a variety of different type of works, such web design templates, word press templates, movies, broadcast footage, and even some formal publications. You typically see these type of licenses on many of the template design sites and the creator will generally tell you what type of whether or not you are allowed to use the works in a personal or business setting. Additionally, if you are searching for clip art for the web page a lot of times, you will see that they have creative commons license as well, however the art work in this category is general non-commercial.

Patent and copyright law can be difficult for laymen to understand completely. That is why you might need the services of an attorney to help you fill out the paperwork that will protect your patented or copyrighted materials.

Copyright Attorneys

Copyright attorneys might focus on a specific type of copyright law, so it is important to find one that has considerable experience in the issues that impact you most. Some of the attorneys might practice copyright law for music, while others might focus on books, articles, and other types of writing. There are many different types of copyrights that protect the intellectual rights of those who own materials, so it is often best to talk to several attorneys to help you choose one that can give you the services that are best for you.

Patent Attorneys

Getting a patent for your idea or product is an important way to protect yourself from intellectual property theft. If you have tried to patent an idea or product on your own, though, then you have probably discovered how overwhelming and complex it can be. The paperwork alone is often incredibly specific and expects those filling them out to understand patent law. Obviously, most laymen will have a hard time appealing to the patent office without the help of a skilled attorney.

Like copyright, there are many different types of patent law issues. Some of the patent attorneys in your area might have a background in aerodynamics that can help you or your company get a patent on new aircraft products. Others might have backgrounds in chemistry, mechanics, or other subjects that helps them understand the patenting process for that specific type of product and idea. If you can find a patent lawyer who fully understands and appreciates your plans and ideas, then you might have found one that can help you.

It is absolutely essential that all screenwriters looking to profit from their work have an understanding of copyright law. If the legal procedures necessary to protect your work are not undertaken, it will be impossible to prove that your work is your own. Luckily, the proper procedures are easy to understand and execute.

The first fact about copyrighting that any screenwriter should be aware of is a piece of good news – the government is on your side. Under United Kingdom law, any original work is automatically placed under copyright as soon as it is recorded in any form. Thus, by simply putting your work down on paper, whether it be a screenplay, a treatment, or simply an idea, you are instantly protected under copyright law. The idea belongs to you, and it is illegal for any other individual to pass it off as his or her own.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that unless you take further measures, it will be very difficult to prove that this work is in fact your own. For, even though it has been copyrighted, one must still obtain sufficient proof that he or she actually created the work in question.

What methods are necessary to obtain such proof has been a point of contention among screenwriters for years. One long-standing industry rumor claims that all a writer must do to assert ownership over a work is to, upon completion, send a copy to him or herself through the mail. This is false. In reality, further measures are necessary in order to officially register a work as your own.