Copyright websites?

[cryptoguy]

I notice that a lot/most websites out there on the Net are copyrighted and I'm about to release a website of my own and I'm just wondering if copyrighting it is necessary/encouraged. The site will basically be a portfolio of my art and I certainly do not want people stealing my work. Should I copyright? If so, how do I do it?
Thanks.

[VHockey86]

http://www.copyright.gov/

A good starting place.

ALOT of websites simply put "copyright 200x" at the bottom, even though its not actually a registered copyright. Technically anything you create is "copyrighted", but the court battles can be a tossup no matter what you do. If you're worried about people "stealing" your work, then perhaps a website isn't the best place to be publishing it.

[Rockrz]

Call the people at the copyright office. I did and they explained everything, even how to put it all on a CD, and you really should print most of your pages out too.

It's only about $35, and it takes about 6 months.

Once you get the copyright registration, you can have someone's website taken down by their host if you show the host your copyright registration.

If you don't have a copyright registration from the US Copyright Office, you will not be able to deal with anyone effectively if they steal your content.

I went round and round with several hosting companies and they basically said "show us your copyright registration and will will remove your content from our servers...without it, you can go jump in the lake, and if you keep calling we will sue you!"

That's basically it!

[cryptoguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VHockey86

http://www.copyright.gov/

A good starting place.

ALOT of websites simply put "copyright 200x" at the bottom, even though its not actually a registered copyright. Technically anything you create is "copyrighted", but the court battles can be a tossup no matter what you do. If you're worried about people "stealing" your work, then perhaps a website isn't the best place to be publishing it.

True, but I'm not overly paranoic about someone stealing my work, I was just thinking if I should get the official copyright thing. I guess I'll just do the "C" My name, because I'm not planning on fighting this in courts anytime soon.

Thanks.

[Rockrz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cryptoguy

I guess I'll just do the "C" My name, because I'm not planning on fighting this in courts anytime soon

If you obtain copyright registration, you won't have to go to court because the hosting company knows that you have legal right to sue them and collect damages as well as legal fees.

Not that you actually have to do that...just the threat of being able to LEGALLY do that will get a web hosting companies attention...and they will remove your content from their servers, IF you play the part of the big bad "I'll have my attorneys contact your attorneys" guy.

In a large majority of cases, just the threat of having a good case against someone, and being able to PROVE you are right in the beginning...will cause the other side to give in before a legal case even gets started.

Believe me, a hosting company doesn't want to spend $10,000 up to who knows how much defending their position when you can show them a copyright registration that cost you $35 to obtain!

That's a bargain!

[cryptoguy]

Yeah, I guess I will look into it. By the way, on the copyright.gov website, my website would be considered a Visual Arts work, correct?

[Micky758]

You could put lo-res images on the site or watermark them, or maybe use javascript to block right clicks.

[redfoxstorm]

this is some good information

[EXreaction]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micky758

You could put lo-res images on the site or watermark them, or maybe use javascript to block right clicks.

Yep, I agree, make sure you put lower resolution images(save them as jpg as well if you can, the compression lines are easy to identify at certian levels if you enlarge it)

Watermarking is a good idea as well. I would do that.

Blocking right clicks won't stop many people. It will stop the people that have a hard time starting up Paint, but not many others. So that is up to you(anyone that would get stopped by the right click removal isn't going to use your image in any way that would damage you anyways, so I wouldn't worry about it)

[csamuels]

w/o a copyright you might be protected by IP


Intellectual property - wiki

Quote:

In law, intellectual property (IP) is an umbrella term for various legal entitlements which attach to certain types of information, ideas, or other intangibles in their expressed form. The holder of this legal entitlement is generally entitled to exercise various exclusive rights in relation to the subject matter of the IP. The term intellectual property reflects the idea that this subject matter is the product of the mind or the intellect, and that IP rights may be protected at law in the same way as any other form of property.