Nashville & Franklin TN Copyright & Trademark Registration & Licensing Attorneys
We Protect Your Intellectual Property Rights
When it comes to matters of entertainment law in Tennessee, proper copyright and trademark registration are essential for protecting the interests of businesses and individuals involved in this field. Copyrights and trademarks protect creative works, such as literature, music, art, and other forms of expression. In order to ensure that one’s rights are protected, they must register their work with the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
What Is The Difference Between Copyrights & Trademarks?
A copyright protects original works of authorship such as books, songs, paintings, photographs, and software. It gives exclusive rights to the author for a limited period of time. A trademark is a word or symbol associated with a product or service that identifies its source and distinguishes it from others. It can also be used to promote goods or services by indicating the origin or quality of goods or services associated with it. Unlike copyrights, trademarks do not have an expiration date – they remain in effect so long as they remain in use by their owners.
How Do I Register My Work?
In order to register your work with either the US Copyright Office or USPTO you must first fill out an application form. Depending on what type of work you are registering (i.e., book vs song) there will be different forms available; however all forms require basic information such as title of work being registered, name of author/creator and contact information. After submitting the application form along with any supporting documents (such as proof that you own the material), you will receive a registration number which confirms that your work has been registered successfully.
Licensing Your Work
Once your work is registered with either US Copyright Office or USPTO it may be licensed to third parties under specific terms and conditions that are outlined in an agreement between both parties. This agreement allows someone else to use your work while ensuring that they do not violate any laws related to copyright infringement or unfair competition which could result in serious financial penalties if violated. Licensing agreements will also specify how much money needs to be paid by the licensee for each instance where their product uses yours; this fee generally depends on factors such as popularity/recognition of brand/artist involved and relevance/usefulness of material being licensed. Additionally, licensing agreements often include provisions about quality control which specifies how licensees must abide by certain standards when producing products based on copyrighted materials; this helps protect against fraudulent replication which might damage reputation/value associated with original material being licensed out.
It is important to note that registering your works with either the US Copyright Office or USPTO is not a guarantee of protection. Therefore, if someone uses your work without permission, it is important to contact an attorney who specializes in intellectual property law so they can help you determine what steps need to be taken in order to protect your creative works.