Protecting Your Brand: Copyright

If you’re looking into copyright, you’ve created an original literary, musical, or artistic work and you want to protect it. In Canada and the United States your original work is automatically protected by copyright at creation. But if someone challenges your copyright, you’ll need proof of the date of your creation. So, how can you prove that your masterpiece came first? 

The simplest way to build proof of the date of your original work is by registering for a certificate of copyright at the office in your jurisdiction (CIPO in Canada and the US Copyright Office in the US). A certificate is not outright proof of copyright ownership, but if someone challenges the copyright on your creation, it can be used as evidence of the date of creation. Plus, once you register, you can license your work out to others. If you are challenged on your copyright, you’ll want to have registered and you’ll also want to look for some other way to verify the date of creation. Courts will accept any written or electronic proof that confirms the existence of your work. 

It can be hard to think of the practicalities that might arise from asserting ownership over your original creations, especially when you get lost in what you do best - creating the masterpiece itself. Let us help with what we’re good at.  If you’re looking for a legal expert to help lead the way, give us a shout!

Smile + Waive: Waivers of Liability to protect your Heart-Leading Business >