Have you filed your copyrights for all the art you've created this year? Now you can file your images digitally online at http://www.copyright.gov/eco/
Kate's tips:
- Be forewarned, the site is a little challenging--so keep this tech support number handy: 202-707-3002.
- Have the Tutorial open on your screen while you go through the application process, otherwise it's easy to get sidetracked and go down the wrong road, especially when a lot of their examples are oriented towards musicians & video producers.
- There is a hour time limit for downloading, so it's best to have your art ready before you get on the site. Make copies of your art files, reduce their file sizes and put them all in one folder on the desktop. That way, they are ready to download and easy to find. I reduced each image down to 100-500K range.
- Consider compressing all your files into one zip file and just downloading that one file.
- Is this worth all the hassle? In the end, If you have a lot of art, then yes. But if you are only submitting a few items, then it will be faster filling out the paperwork by hand. For example, online, it may take you ten minutes just to decipher the dozen restrictions for the obscure and unnecessary password requirements, such as:
"A password must not include words that can be found in any dictionary, whether English or any language"
Have any tips of your own? Did you have a different experience? Leave them in the comments below or write to me directly and I'll add them on this post.
Filing Online:
Lower filing fee of $35
Online status tracking
Before using the service, read
eCO FAQs, or eCO Tutorial (PowerPoint) eCO Tutorial (PDF).
For recently added features, see eCO Updates
Articles on Copyrights
Fear of Getting Your Art Stolen? Look at the Numbers
How to Register You Copyrights Digitally
Artist Protects Copyright Through Twitter
The 10 Key Points That Must Be In Every Licensing Agreement
Protecting Your Designs with Watermark Tools
Photoshop Tip: How to create a customized signature brush
Protecting Your Art: Interview with Alyson B. Stanfield
How to protect your assets in a licensing agreement
Free Booklets from the Copyright Office
PDF Copyright Basics
PDF Registering a Copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office
PDF Make Sure Your Application Will Be Acceptable
PDF Cartoons and Comic Strips
PDF Have a Question About Copyright Registration?
PDF Make Sure Your Application Will Be Acceptable
PDF Publications on Copyright
PDF Copyright Notice
Legal Books for Artists:
Legal Guide for the Visual Artist, Fifth Edition
Copyright Law for Artists, Photographers and Designers (Essential Guides)
The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs to Know
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5 comments:
This is going to be very useful once I start doing some licensing of my art.
Thank you so much for posting this Kate! I copyrighted a piece many years ago when it was only snail mail, but was not sure how to go about it in the digital age. Your info was extremely helpful. Have a blessed day!
Considering filing an expedited copyright cost $780 for an IP case, $35 is a bargain.
Thanks so much for this information. I'm preparing to do the same thing and I wondered if the copyright office has a minimum dpi requirement for the images that are downloaded for copyright protection. Sounds like low res images are fine.
Thanks again!
boy you aren't kidding! I gave up because of the restrictions for the obscure and unnecessary password requirements, such as:
"A password must not include words that can be found in any dictionary, whether English or any language"
Why can't they just randomly assign letters and numbers when you sign in?
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