Copyright Law in Reno, NV

Did you know that Reno only has one business that made the Fortune 500 list?

As of 2022, Caesars Entertainment holds the number 340 spot. Do you have a business that could surpass their significant achievements?

Claiming and protecting your brand is crucial to surpassing your goals, no matter how large or humble. Learn what you need to handle copyrights and trademarks and form an opinion about your needs through this article today!

What Is Copyright Registration?

Copyright registration offers the author of a piece of work in Reno, Nevada 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 Reno, NV 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 Reno, NV business people and brand owners often trademark:

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

The Nevada Secretary of State provides the forms and instructions to register a trademark. Business owners from Reno also have to remit a $100 registration fee with their application. If you need to expedite the service, you can pay for the following processing times:

• $125 for 24 hours

• $500 for 2 hours

• $1,000 for 1 hour

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

An extensive review process begins in earnest once you send your application. As reported by the USPTO, the wait can be four to six months long. After a business from Reno finishes with the examining attorney, twelve to eighteen months total is typical. Optimally, you will steer clear of delays by not making mistakes like:

• Supplying an incorrect identification for the goods and services the mark represents

• Presenting a trademark that conflicts with an existing one

• Attempting to register a phrase used in everyday speech

• Filing for intellectual property that is too generic

The U.S. Copyright Office measures its processing times from application to registration carefully. According to their data, the worst-case scenario is a series of procedures that take a year to resolve. Thankfully, many applicants will only have to endure a period of 3.6 months.

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

The value of your Reno, NV 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 Reno, Nevada 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 Reno, NV 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 Reno, NV. 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 Reno copyright attorneys  that can guide you through every step? We can even help you connect with an attorney across Nevada 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!