Copyright Law in Tampa, FL

Did you know there are seven companies on the Fortune 500 in Tampa?

Reaching that level of recognition and achievement doesn’t happen overnight. Many of these companies spend decades expanding their presence and intellectual property portfolio. If you want your company to become the eighth business in the area to reach the top, you have to do the same. No matter where you are on this journey, you’ll need to consider the information in this article.

What Is Copyright Registration?

Copyright registration offers the author of a piece of work in Tampa, Florida 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 Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL business people and brand owners often trademark:

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

Business owners in Tampa register a trademark or service mark through the Division of Corporations. The cost of this service depends on the legal structure of the company. For instance, an LLC has to pay $100 for the filing fee. But, a corporation only has to submit $35.

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

Applying for copyright can hit several bumps in the road that delay the process. First, the U.S. Copyright Office cites that the staffing level of registration specialists can be a problem. The complexity of the subject matter can also trigger longer reviews to avoid conflicts with other properties. As a result of these factors, they average a three-month processing time.

Business leaders from Tampa need to have even more patience while applying to the USPTO. The federal government offers a broad estimate of twelve to eighteen months. It’s also worth noting that there were a record-breaking number of applications for trademarks in 2021. As a result, the wait times have steadily increased since 2019.

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

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