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Copyright Registration & Enforcement

Houston Copyright Registration & Enforcement Attorneys

Copyright registration is the process of officially recording your creative work with a government agency, such as the United States Copyright Office. This registration serves as a public record of your ownership of the copyrighted material and provides legal evidence of the copyright claim.

Copyright enforcement refers to the act of protecting and asserting the rights granted to you as a copyright holder under copyright law. This includes preventing unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or modification of the copyrighted work and taking legal action against those who infringe on these rights.

 Although copyright comes into being the moment an original work is created, copyright enforcement usually requires a copyright owner to obtain registration before bringing any action to enforce copyright or before executing any agreement to license that copyright. 

Filing for copyright registration, before an infringing activity, also increases the potential damages that may be recovered. Copyrighting critical material is a forward-thinking business decision that brings revenue possibilities in the present and future protection of your business. 

At Vethan Law Firm, Our Houston legal team can help your business obtain copyrights and vigorously defend your copyrights against infringers.

Protect your business with help from our Houston copyright registration and enforcement lawyers. Reach out to Vethan Law Firm at (888) 650-5011 for a free consultation. Hablamos español. 

Our Texas Copyright Legal Practice

VLF has a robust and experienced intellectual property law group in Houston that works with our clients to file copyrights, seek injunctions against copyright infringers, and prosecute and defend copyright infringement lawsuits in federal court. 

We serve clients in Dallas, San Antonio, Katy, Sugar Land, and surrounding Texas areas. 

Our team understands the value of business copyrights. For example, architects and architectural firms protect their building design and blueprints, engineers protect line drawings and schematics, and IT companies protect the software they write for businesses to use. 

Copyright law confers upon the copyright owner the exclusive right to reproduce the work, to distribute the work, and to display the work. Many times, a copyright lawsuit is based on an infringer improperly using some of these rights, without a license (permission from the owner). It is the job of a copyright attorney to help the owner protect these rights.

Benefits of Copyright

The benefits of copyrighting your work include:

  • Legal Evidence: Registration serves as prima facie evidence of the validity of the copyright and the facts stated in the certificate, making it easier to prove ownership in case of disputes or infringement claims.
  • Public Record: Registration makes your copyright claim part of the public record, which can help deter potential infringers from using your work without permission.
  • Ability to Sue: In some jurisdictions, like the United States, registration is a prerequisite for filing a copyright infringement lawsuit.
  • Statutory Damages and Attorney's Fees: If you register your copyright before the infringement occurs or within a specified timeframe after publication, you may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney's fees in an infringement lawsuit, rather than just actual damages.

How Are Copyrights Enforced?

Enforcement of copyright can be done through the following methods:

  • Monitoring and Detection: Keep an eye on potential infringement by monitoring the internet, social media, and other platforms for unauthorized use of your copyrighted material.
  • Cease and Desist Letters: If you discover that someone is infringing on your copyright, you can send them a cease and desist letter demanding that they stop using your work and remove any infringing material. This is often the first step in resolving disputes without resorting to litigation.
  • DMCA Takedown Notices: Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), copyright holders can request that online service providers remove infringing content hosted on their platforms. To do this, you need to send a properly formatted DMCA takedown notice to the service provider's designated agent.
  • Infringement Lawsuits: If informal methods fail to resolve the issue, you may choose to file a lawsuit against the infringer. This typically involves proving that you own a valid copyright and that the defendant has infringed upon your rights. If successful, you may be awarded damages, an injunction to stop further infringement, and in some cases, attorney's fees.

Ancillary Claims to Copyright Infringement

Recently, two international toy manufacturers were embroiled in a federal copyright infringement lawsuit, seeking ownership rights to a popular brand of children’s toys. The argument used in court was that the toy itself was not the issue but that the design upon which the toy was based and manufactured was in dispute. 

In this type of case, a company may also sue for conversion – the unauthorized taking of business information – and seek injunctive relief against the infringer. The holder of the copyright is afforded a wider range of relief because copyright adds further protective value to their business. That is why hiring a copyright lawyer is necessary.

Find out more about how our Houston copyright attorneys can help you by contacting us at (888) 650-5011

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Reviews & Testimonials We Come Along Side Our Clients to Build a Future

Most of our clients have been with VLF for more than a decade. We have come to know their businesses, their personalities, and their families. Having personal interactions with our clients and truly understanding their needs, especially during tough times, is important to us. It allows us to fully represent them and deliver results that exceed expectations.

    "So much appreciation for their great work!"

    They always provided professional expertise, were incredibly helpful, and help us win our case!

    - Brenda U.
    "Definitely a client for life!"

    They were always professional and on top of their game! Thanks for helping me win my case!

    - Daniel H.
    "Charles and his team at VLF are unrivaled in the field of business law."

    If you find yourself in need of legal counsel, I can attest to his professionalism, wealth of knowledge, and fervent attention to you and your needs.

    - Shawn M.
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    It was the most stressful experience I have ever faced, and I am thankful that Charles Vethan and his team took control of the case, from start to finish.

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    I couldn't have chosen better. Charles Vethan was far more knowledgeable and aggressive on our behalf than any other lawyer I have ever heard of.

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    My partner that tried to steal from the business didn't know what hit him when Charles got done with him.

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    "Highly recommend."

    Charles and Diren are more than just experienced attorneys. They are great business coaches and great assets for any business owner.

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    "I highly recommend the Vethan Law Firm."

    The staff and Charles Vethan are all very knowledgeable, trustworthy, friendly, and reasonable.

    - Stacy J.

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