Copyright Application

The government filing fee for a U.S. copyright application is $65. Our service includes:

Attorney Consultation Time;
Drafting and Filing of Copyright Application;
Responding to Minor Office Actions; and
Sending Registration Certificate, if one is issued.

Although copyright protection technically exists as soon as a creative work has been created, securing a federal registration has a number of advantages. Copyright registration offers substantial benefits. Without a federal registration, it is more difficult to enforce your rights to stop acts of infringement, and a federal registration also avoids disputes about authorship by providing evidence of the date of creation. A federal registration is therefore extremely important in stopping infringement, maintaining control of a work, and avoiding costly legal disputes. Registration is perquisite to an infringement suit.

Your creative works of expression may be your most valuable assets. If they are not fully protected with federal copyright registration, now is the time; a legal dispute in the future will be far more costly and time-consuming than any fees you’ll pay for federal copyright

There are benefits to copyright registration, including:

Statutory Damages – If you register the copyrighted work before an infringement takes place, you could be entitled to statutory damages up to $30,000 (for normal infringement) and up to $150,000 for willful infringement. If you don’t register before the infringement occurs, you will only be entitled to actual damages (based on the amount you lost because of the infringement, which is usually not very much).

Attorneys Fees and Costs – If you register the copyrighted work before an infringement takes place, you could be entitled to attorneys fees and costs. If you don’t register before the infringement occurs, you will not be able to seek your attorneys fees as damages

Easier Enforcement – Online retailers require proof that you own a copyright work and will rarely ‘take your word for it.’ A copyright registration is the quickest and easiest way to show proof of ownership.

How long will it take?

Copyright protection arises automatically when a work is created. Enhanced protection and enforcement powers can be obtained through copyright registration. Copyright registration is effective on the date the U.S. Copyright Office receives the completed application and appropriate fees. Lehner Law will promptly follow up with you to gather information and file the application. It takes 3 to 12 months for a copyright to be registered.

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