Copyright covers diverse subject areas, including literary works, visual arts, sound recordings, and computer program code. Copyright is established when the “Work” is created; that is, copyright does not require registration with the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO). There are, however, important advantages in promptly registering a copyright with the USCO, including awards of statutory damages and attorney fees against infringers in court actions. For many copyrightable works, registration is straightforward; consequently, our professionals can simply provide guidance to clients regarding the establishment of an in-house copyright registration process.

We counsel clients regarding copyright issues pertaining to the Internet and computer software as well as the more traditional copyright industries such as book and music publishing, sound recordings, and entertainment. Our attorneys provide opinions on copyrightability, fair use, infringement, ownership and title, and security interests, and we advise clients regarding enforcement of their copyrights and of their rights to use the works of others.