Copyright Law in Hartford, CT

Unfortunately there are bad faith actors that are seeking to take advantage wherever they can. Whether intentionally, or unintentionally, it is not uncommon for people to misuse the intellectual property of another. Because of this fact, it may be in your best interest to consult with an experienced Hartford copyright attorney. Especially if you are interested in protecting your intellectual property. This area of the law is nuanced, but they can help guide you and help you protect what is yours.

What Is Copyright Registration?

Copyright registration offers the author of a piece of work in Hartford, Connecticut some protection from those who try to steal their idea.

A novel creation receives copyright protection when it becomes fixed into a tangible form. Copyright law dictates how to establish this ownership. Additionally, it explains how to register intellectual property or defend against infringement.

Copyright registration is a type of public record for ownership. A piece of work doesn’t require copyright registration for protection under the US copyright law. However, you should register your product in Hartford, CT with the help of a copyright lawyer, as this can offer you several unique advantages:

• Protects your work against the importation of copies that infringe the registration. Your registration will be recorded with the United States Customs and Border Protection.
• If your work is already registered in the United States, you can proceed with an infringement lawsuit; otherwise, you will have to register it first.
• The IP owner can seek damages and attorney fees if a copyright registration happens within three months of publication (or prior to an infringement claim).
• If a copyrighted work becomes registered outside of the three-month time frame, you may seek actual damages that you lost.
• Copyright registration will identify each public record of its existence. This action puts the copyright protection into public notice for the piece of work that you’ve created and/or own.

What Is a Trademark?

A trademark is a word, symbol, design, or phrase that distinguishes you from another company. Service marks are a type of trademark that a company will use when providing services to the public. Technically, trademarks are a form of intellectual property. It also forms part of the company’s brand, even if they no longer use it.

Here are some of the components that established Hartford, CT business people and brand owners often trademark:

• Logos
• Symbols
• Product packages
• Name of the business
• Name of the product or service
• Designs

The Connecticut Department of Business gives a brief overview on how to file your trademark application for protection in Hartford, and nationally. Trademarks give your business exclusive rights on a state, and national level, that are incredibly beneficial to your business. When filing your application you’ll be required to provide detailed drawings of the mark, and even words or phrases that are associated with it. You’ll also be required to provide multiple samples of the mark being used in conjunction with your business. The Connecticut State Government provides an online copy of the trademark application to simplify the process for those filing in Hartford.

How Long Does It Take to Register a Trademark and Copyright?

The Connecticut State Legislature affirms that if there is a problem with your trademark application in Hartford, you must be given ample time to correct this problem before the application is nullified. However, the USPTO states that a nationally recognized trademark can take anywhere from a year to 18 months to be properly processed. Any problems with the application can only add time to this process. To avoid costly mistakes and extra time you may want to engage the services of an experienced copyright attorney in Hartford.

What’s the Difference Between a Trademark and a Copyright?

The value of your Hartford, CT business depends on the assets it owns. It’s important to note that the most valuable assets are not always physical or financial. Your intellectual property counts as assets too. Due to this, if people use those assets without your permission, you can file a lawsuit for infringement.

While trademarks and copyrights protect intellectual property, they cover two different aspects. Copyright registration protects artistic and literary works, such as videos and books. A trademark registration protects brand components. This can be a jingle, a logo, or a mascot of your organization.

Take, for example, if you own a magazine publishing company. You would trademark the logo and the name of your company. However, you would also place copyright protection on all the magazines that you have published.

Work With an Experienced Hartford, Connecticut Copyright Lawyer

Do you have an idea that needs protection under intellectual property law? If so, complete the registration process as soon as possible. There is always the risk that someone else might beat you to it. This eventuality can create complications when the time comes to defend IP rights claims.

An experienced Hartford, CT copyright lawyer can help you uncover if anyone else has registered a similar idea. If your concept closely resembles another, it might get rejected. Consequently, it is better to find this early than to go through the process only to get denied later. In addition, an intellectual property lawyer will help you to draft critical documents. Or, they can determine the value of the intellectual property that you own.

An intellectual property lawyer also assesses the quality of the assets. They will also look at the number of assets licensed under your name or your business in Hartford, CT. This evaluation can help to maximize the entire value of all intangible assets that your company has.

Are you ready to tap into our network of Hartford copyright attorneys  that can guide you through every step? We can even help you connect with an attorney across Connecticut state lines. 

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!