Copyright Attorney

Choose a Copyright Attorney from Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP to Protect Your Work

A copyright protects original works of authorship, whether published or unpublished, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.  Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed. A copyright exists whether or not it is registered.  However, registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney’s fees in successful litigation. And if registration occurs within five years of publication, it is considered prima facie evidence in court. If you believe someone violated your copyright, contact a copyright attorney from our firm to help stop the infringement. 

Copyrights Issued After January 1978

For works created on or after January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the authors life plus 70 years.  Works made for hire or anonymous works are protected for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.  For works created before January 1, 1978  but not published or registered before that date, the life-plus-70 or 95/120-year terms apply, and for works published on or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright will not expire before December 31, 2047.

Copyrights Issued Before January 1978

For works created and published or registered before January 1, 1978, the copyright term was 28 years from publication with a copyright notice or date of registration if unpublished, with an option to renew for another 28 years in the last year of the first term. In 1976, Congress extended the renewal term to 47 years, for a total of 75 years. In 1998, Congress further extended the term by 20 years, for a renewal term of 67 years and a total term of protection of 95 years. 

Hire an Experienced Copyright Litigation Lawyer for Your Infringement Claim

If you believe you have a copyright infringement claim, it is best to consult with a copyright litigation lawyer as soon as possible. A court can order an infringer to stop, and can award you actual damages suffered from the infringement, and any profits of the infringer that are attributable to the infringement and are not taken into account in computing the actual damages. In establishing the infringer’s profits, the copyright owner is required to present proof only of the infringer’s gross revenue, and the infringer is required to prove his or her deductible expenses and the elements of profit attributable to factors other than the copyrighted work.  And, instead of actual damages, a copyright owner can elect to recover statutory damages, which can be increased where the infringement is willful. Your copyright attorney will help you determine which option is best for you. 

A Copyright Litigation Lawyer Can Also Help with Defense Against Infringement

If you use a copyrighted work without authorization, the owner may be entitled to bring an infringement action against you. You should carefully evaluate any accusations of infringement, which a copyright attorney could help you to do.  Where there has in fact been infringement, innocent or otherwise, it often makes sense to resolve the matter without the cost of extensive litigation. However, sometimes allegations of copyright infringement are made inappropriately, and sometimes the party seeking payment does not own the copyright.  Where such a party has been collecting license fees from many alleged infringers or licensee, those who have paid may be able to bring a class action to recover the improperly collected fees.

Terminating a Copyright

An author or his or her heirs can terminate the transfer of a copyright in certain circumstances, depending on the law in effect at the time of the copyright. Under the previous law, the copyright in a work reverted to  the author, if living, or if the author was not living, to other  specified beneficiaries, provided a renewal claim was registered in the 28th year of the original term. The copyright in works eligible for renewal on or after June 26, 1992, will vest in the name of the renewal claimant on the effective date of any renewal registration made during the 28th year of the original term. Otherwise, the renewal copyright will vest in the party entitled to claim renewal as of December 31st of the 28th year. The present law drops the renewal feature except for works already in the first term of statutory protection when the present law took effect. Instead, the present law permits termination of a grant of rights after 35 years under certain conditions by serving written notice on the transferee within specified time limits. For works already under statutory copyright protection before 1978, the present law provides a similar right of termination covering the newly added years that extended the former maximum term of the copyright from 56 to 95 years.

Contact a Copyright Attorney Now to Handle All Aspects of Your Litigation Claim

If you believe that your copyrights have been infringed, or that someone is making inappropriate demands for copyright royalties to which they are not entitled, please contact one of our copyright attorneys: Jonathan Rotter or Kara Wolke.