Copyright

We believe © should be a mark of distinction.

Copyright Law Services

These days, copyrighted material can take a number of forms, such as software, written content, audio productions, and even works of drama or fiction - and thanks to the advancement of technology and creative platforms, this list grows by the day.

If you own a copyright of any kind, whether it be for branding, marketing purposes, creative work, or anything in between, you need to be able to defend that copyright from those who would misuse it for their own gains. That’s where the copyright attorneys of Howard & Howard come in.

What Work Needs A Copyright?

Copyrights protect "original works of authorship," including literary, technical, musical, artistic, dramatic, and other works, both published and unpublished, that are fixed in a tangible medium. Copyrights protect the fixed expression of an idea or fact, but do not protect the underlying ideas, procedures, methods of doing business, concepts, or discoveries. The copyright attorneys of Howard & Howard understand the value of ideas and are skilled in preserving and enhancing these ideas. 

Our copyright attorneys are experienced in the full spectrum of creative works and media, such as:

• Books and articles
• Photography and video
• Musical compositions and spoken word recordings
• Software, e-commerce, and website content
• Multimedia and audiovisual works
• Artwork and graphic design
• Toys and games
• Animation and cartoon characters

Our clients are equally diverse and include manufacturers, distributors, publishers, software and technology companies, illustrators and artists, photographers, composers, entertainers, healthcare providers, print and broadcast media, and academia.

Copyright Protection - Industries Served

The clients served by Howard & Howard’s copyright attorney team are equally diverse and reflect a number of industries, including:

• Manufacturers
• Distributors
• Publishers
• Software and technology companies
• Illustrators and artists
• Photographers
• Composers 
• Entertainers
• Healthcare providers
• Print and broadcast media 
• Academia

among many others. From initial copyright filing to far-reaching commercialization, we work closely with our clients to develop a complete intellectual property strategy, including the enhancement of IP rights under copyright law.

Copyright Claim & Filing Process

Securing and monetizing a copyright can involve many tasks, sometimes requiring assistance from our network of premier IP lawyers around the world. We work with our clients throughout the entire process, including:

• Obtaining U.S. and foreign copyright registrations including complex, difficult, or expedited registrations in contemplation of litigation
• Advising on development, ownership, licensing, distribution, and infringement issues
• Drafting licensing agreements, assignments, and work-for-hire contracts
• Negotiating literary, personal use, and syndication rights
• Assessing fair use, freedom-to-use, and public domain considerations
• Clearing advertising, media, marketing, and internet content
• Enforcing copyrights and defending against infringement
• Determining the value of copyrights in connection with merger and acquisition due diligence

By contacting the copyright attorneys at Howard & Howard early on in the process, we can begin helping you navigate the complexities of copyright law to ensure your submission is completed properly and remains defensible in the event of an infringement.

Creating a copyright and successfully filing it is only half the battle when it comes to protecting your copyrights and branding. When infringement is discovered or suspected by a non-affiliated brand or party, our copyright infringement lawyers can quickly file for injunctions, send and respond to cease-and-desist requests, issue Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notices to internet service providers, and pursue out-of-court solutions. Additionally, our copyright infringement litigators enforce clients’ rights in the courts, arbitration, and other dispute resolution forums. If necessary, we initiate seizures of infringing materials and pursue or defend claims internationally under the Universal Copyright Convention and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

Copyrights affect our lives each day in seen and unseen ways. Clients from all across the US look to the highly skilled copyright lawyers at Howard & Howard to shed light on issues and risks, provide legal counsel informed by broad business perspectives, and deliver solutions custom-tailored to their business goals.