Authors and artists of original works often encounter copyright infringement issues, particularly with the popularity of the Internet and the sharing capabilities that medium provides. The Hecker Law Group has assisted clients in protecting their intellectual property rights through copyright law since 1988. Our Los Angeles copyright law firm provides copyright and related legal services to clients throughout Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Los Angeles copyrights—an overview
A copyright is a type of intellectual property that provides authors and artists of original works with an exclusive right to publish, distribute, and adapt the work for a specific period of time. Copyrights are considered property and may be sold and licensed like patents. Since the Copyright Act of 1976, copyrights extended for the life of the author plus 50 years, or 75 years for a work of corporate authorship. However, the Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA) of 1998 increased U.S. copyright terms by 20 years by extending to the life of the author plus 70 years and for corporate authorship works to 120 years after creation or 95 years after publication, whichever is earlier.
Federal copyright protection applies to various works, including:
| Literary works |
Audiovisual works |
| Musical works |
Other authorship works such as computer programs
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| Dramatic works |
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| Pictorial works |
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| Sculptural |
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As an owner of a Los Angeles copyrighted work you have the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and prepare derivative works of the copyrighted material. And any individual or entity that reproduces, distributes, or prepares derivative works without express permission of the copyright holder may be guilty of copyright infringement. In such a case, you may have cause to file a Los Angeles copyright lawsuit.
Fair use and Los Angeles copyright infringement
While copyright law protects authors and artists from copyright infringement, the Fair Use rule is not considered copyright violation. Fair use of copyrighted material may include:
| Criticism and comment |
Nonprofit educational uses |
| News reporting |
Parody (imitating the work in a humorous way) |
| Research and scholarship |
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Protect your Los Angeles copyrights
Generally speaking, nearly all works are protected at the time of their writing and a copyright notice is not required. Our experienced copyright attorneys can assist you in handling copyright and related legal matters. Contact The Hecker Law Group online or call 866-958-6594 today to learn how we can help you with your copyright needs.