20 Tips: Do I Need to Copyright My Website
According to the subject matter experts over at runrex.com, your business’s website can be one of your most important and powerful marketing tools at your disposal. This also means that if you have an excellent website, the more vulnerable it will be for those looking to steal your content, images, and other elements and presenting them as their own. This is why one of the most common questions people ask when setting up their site is if they need to copyright it. This article will look to have this question addressed by highlighting what a copyright is and how you can copyright your website if you decide to do so.
What is copyright?
According to discussions on the same over at guttulus.com, copyright is the exclusive right that the owner of intellectual property has. It falls under the auspices of intellectual property law and protects the rights of creators of original works of authorship whether the work has been published or not.
When does copyright exist?
As is revealed in discussions on the same over at runrex.com, copyright exists at the moment the work is created. This means that, by law, as soon as something is written, drawn, photographed, etc., then the author automatically owns its copyright.
Why is registering copyright then necessary?
Although copyright will exist at the moment the work is created as mentioned above, which means that copyright protection exists without registration, it is important to note that your work must be registered before you can file a copyright infringement case in a US court as explained over at guttulus.com.
Can a website be copyrighted?
If you are wondering if a website can be copyrighted, then the answer is yes. This is because copyright protects original works of authorship, including your website and any graphics you made or photographs you took for your site.
Should I register the copyright to my website?
While copyright violation is always illegal, it can be pretty difficult to prosecute offenders without a copyright registration. This makes it easier to prove ownership of your work in the event of an infringement given it establishes a public record of ownership, allowing you to go after and collect more damages from an infringer. While it is up to you to decide if you want to copyright your website, it is something that is recommended, particularly if your website is valuable to you.
What are the eligibility requirements for website copyrighting?
As is covered over at runrex.com, there are two main requirements for having a copyrightable website, and they include:
Original work of authorship- this means that the website material must originate with the copyright owner, and must also show some minimal amount of creativity.
Fixed in a tangible medium- this means that the medium must allow the work to be perceived, reproduced, or communicated.
What can’t you copyright as far as your website is concerned?
With the above factors to consider, it is important also to know the type of things that you can’t copyright when looking to copyright your website material. According to the gurus over at guttulus.com, you can’t copyright a domain name or the title of a website. You also can’t copyright ideas, systems, procedures, or methods of operation.
What will your copyright cover?
Also, it is important to note that when you submit your copyright, it will only cover the elements you provide in your form. This means that, as explained over at runrex.com, if you have graphics and photos on your site that you want to add to your copyright, then you must include those items in your copyright form.
Who will own the copyright to your website?
It is worth noting that a website is usually a compilation of things, from text and graphics to video and computer programs and so forth, all created by several people. Therefore, if the website was created by your employees as part of their regular job, then you will own the copyright. If, however, you hire someone to create a website for your business, the person hired owns the copyright to whatever they created.
What if you need to own the copyright to the copyrightable material of your website?
If you have hired someone to create a website for your business but you want to own the copyright to all of the copyrightable portions of the website, then you will need work for hire agreements or agreements transferring the copyrightable content to you. This is where an attorney can help you and where they can come in.
Tips on how to copyright a website
If you have decided that you need to copyright your website, then follow the steps articulated in the following tips.
Head to the registration portal
The first thing you will need to do according to the experts over at guttulus.com is to visit the registration portal for the US Copyright Office. Once there, look for and click on “Log in to the Electronic System” to get started. If you don’t have an account, then you will need to create one. Your website qualifies as “Other Digital Content” as far as the categories you can register content goes.
Fill out the copyright application
After creating an account and logging in, you will be required to fill out the required information in the form provided. As outlined in detail over at runrex.com, some of the information required includes the title of the work, the years it was completed, the name of the author, among others.
Pay a filing fee
Once you complete your application, then you will have to pay a fee. According to the gurus over at guttulus.com, the electronic registration fee is $55, which you can pay with a credit card or electronic check. You will be directed by the site to Pay.gov, the online payment system for the Copyright Office, and once you complete your payment, Pay.gov will send you back to the Copyright Office’s website.
Mail-in or upload copies of your work
Finally, after filing your payment and completing the application, you will need to submit your work. Here, you have the option to either upload a copy of your work or mail it to the Copyright Office. Because websites publish in an electronic format, you will want to upload your content to their website, and once this is done, the process will be complete.
The above are the steps you will need to take to copyright your website.
Do I have to register my work to display the copyright symbol?
Using the copyright symbol or any language claiming copyright, such as “All Rights Reserved” can be a great deterrent to potential offenders looking to steal your work. Here, it is important to note that you may display the copyright symbol or language claiming copyright even if you choose not to register your work.
What factors dictate how quickly you will copyright your website?
It is important to know how long the process takes when looking to copyright your website according to the gurus over at runrex.com. Here, it is important to note that the duration depends on whether you submit online or through the mail, as well as whether you need to go back and forth with the Copyright Office as far as your paperwork is concerned.
How long does it take to copyright your website?
As is revealed in discussions on the same over at guttulus.com, the average process time for all claims as far as this process is concerned is around 4 months. The turnaround time will, however, depend on how many applications the Copyright Office receives and clears at the time of your submission.
Will you be able to see your copyright registration?
Yes. After you submit your copyright registration and it is processed, there is a public record of it available as explained over at runrex.com. You, therefore, become part of the registration catalog, and in this catalog, you can search for any copyrights. If anyone wants to look up your copyright, they can easily search through this catalog and they will find it.
How long does a copyright last?
The length of copyright will depend on the work. Typically, copyright lasts the life of the author, plus 70 years for standard works. This is the category where most websites fall. However, for works made for hire or anonymous content, the copyright is 95 years from the year of the first publication or 120 years from its creation, whichever expires first.
Will you need to renew your copyright each year?
No. any content created after January 1st, 1978, does not need renewing each year, which is something that you need to be aware of. This means that as soon as you file the copyright, it will remain valid until the copyright expires.
These are some of the tips you need to consider when you are deciding whether or not to copyright your website, with more information on this topic and then some to be found over at the excellent runrex.com and guttulus.com.