I'm new to selling my work and was wondering about the copyright process for my pictures. I know that you put the C symbol on pictures, but is that all you need to be protected or do you actually have to file papers on each piece? How does this process work for reproductions as well as originals?
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The circled "C" is only if the work is registered with the Library of Congress. www.copyright.gov is the website for the office. Your questions can be answered there.
I'm confused a little. Is my work copywritten at time of creation Like Larry mentioned, and is that good enough for when I sell at shows? I have a lot of pieces that I am making reproductions of to sell. What is the common practice for artist at this step?
Diane Wright > Robert ChapmanAugust 22, 2010 at 6:53pm
I always sign and put the date of the work and the number of the copy which I always keep in excel.Yes you own the rights from the moment it is created.
In other words.
Spanish Girl -Jeannette Carriere-9/16/2010 copy number 001 and you can also put limited edition before the number as well if you plan to only print a certain number of them.I also keep a copy of the persons name of who buys my art along with the print number..
Diane Wright > Chris HoytAugust 22, 2010 at 1:58pm
For a piece of writing like a script, you can have an unofficial copyright (not registered with library of Congress) by putting the work into an enevope and mailing it to yourself. When it arrives, don't open it and put it somewhere. The postmark on the unopened envelope serves as proof as to when it was written. Don't know how well this holds up legally especially if you are going after a big guy like a movie studio. I also don't know how that works for photos.
What kind of work? Photographs require the circled c plus name plus the year of creation for it to actually mean anything, though your work is copyrighted upon creation. Registering it with the copyright office is necessary if you want to hire an attorney to represent you in a lawsuit. That's because all you win for unregistered images is usage which won't cover your legal fees. Registering your images makes you eligible for damages which is where the big money is.
Additionally each time your image is published it needs to be accompanied by the copyright symbol and your name.
Everyone received a postcard from Coconut Grove this past week with a reproduction of a painting on the front and no copyright or artist name anywhere on the card.
Every one of my images I upload on the web has the copyright symbol plus my name embedded. Every picture I sell from my web site comes with a COA (certificate of authenticity) that states that reproduction is not allowed as does every image page on the web site.
Diane Wright > Larry BermanAugust 22, 2010 at 2:00pm
Larry, I have apply to a few shows where they ask you if they can use your jury images in their advertising. I figure if I say no I probably won't get in.
Larry Berman > Diane WrightAugust 22, 2010 at 9:01pm
Always let them use your jury images for advertising. But make sure they credit you in the ad. A few years ago we caught a show using artist images on their application without credit and made sure to let the show know that they had a shared responsibility in protecting the images they were using.
Replies
www.copyright.gov is the website for the office. Your questions can be answered there.
In other words.
Spanish Girl -Jeannette Carriere-9/16/2010 copy number 001 and you can also put limited edition before the number as well if you plan to only print a certain number of them.I also keep a copy of the persons name of who buys my art along with the print number..
http://www.artgally.com/artist-copyright-law.htm
http://emptyeasel.com/2008/03/18/copyright-information-for-artists-...
Additionally each time your image is published it needs to be accompanied by the copyright symbol and your name.
Everyone received a postcard from Coconut Grove this past week with a reproduction of a painting on the front and no copyright or artist name anywhere on the card.
Every one of my images I upload on the web has the copyright symbol plus my name embedded. Every picture I sell from my web site comes with a COA (certificate of authenticity) that states that reproduction is not allowed as does every image page on the web site.
Larry Berman
Digital J u r y Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Larry Berman
Digital J u r y Services
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100