If a person is the owner of a
copyrighted work of authorship and believes that his or her work has been
infringed upon, or if there is reason to believe that another party has
breached a copyright contract, hiring an experienced copyright infringement attorney is the first step in
legal proceedings.
All aspects of the copyright should be discussed with a
copyright attorney to understand the legal rights of the author and what may be
done to settle a copyright dispute. This is important because although a person
may be using another author’s work, it might be under fair use which is a legal
way of using another author’s work.
Also, if a person has not
registered his or her work with the U.S. Copyright Office, it may be tough to
prove that copyright infringement has occurred. It is important to discuss
possible means of evidence in this instance. In any case, a discussion with a
copyright infringement attorney will present options to the author on what the
next course of action would be.
Finding a Copyright
Infringement Attorney
A copyright infringement attorney is not tough to find. The tough
part is finding one that is experienced enough to obtain the best possible
court outcome for the author. One should not be hesitant to take advantage of
the free consultations that many copyright infringement attorneys offer.
Interviewing them about their strategy will give you a better idea of what you
should look for in an attorney.
An attorney directory may be obtained
by contacting a local Bar Association, though the Internet makes the process of
finding attorneys much easier and should be utilized.
Copyright Submission
Attorneys well versed in copyright infringement can help an
individual submit their work to the U.S. Copyright Office. This added
protection helps protect their creative work, especially if a copyright lawsuit
arises. The attorney will make sure the individual submits the proper documents
to have his or her work approved for registration. Although copyright
infringement attorneys are not required for this process, they will ensure that
it is done smoothly and in a timely manner.
Licensing Work
Copyright infringement attorneys help authors evaluate offers from
other parties wishing to use the author’s work for their own benefit. This may
require a contract to be formulated outlining the terms of the copyright
license agreement. All of the author’s rights will be outlined as well in case
the agreement is broken. The goal is to make sure that the client’s interests
are met within the deal and their work is not damaged or used improperly in the
process.
On the other side, a copyright infringement attorney will be
helpful for an individual hoping to inquire about using another author’s work.
The attorney will make sure that when an agreement is made, that he or she does
not infringe upon the copyright by using it improperly and incurring legal liability.