Steve, Charlie, et al.......Copyrights?

[GrayBeard]

What kind of hassle is there in obtaining a copyright for artistic endeavors?
Or should I blow a couple hundred bucks and ask an attorney?

~~~GrayBeard~~~

[sgood]

Boy are you asking a big question. There have been cease and desist letters, lawsuits and the works for using copyrighted material from the web. I would like to think that simply asking permission is enough most of the time but I'm afraid that may not be enough sometimes.

I have asked permission from artists and designers many times to use parts of their work. Been turned down quite a few times and allowed quite a few times.

I used a silhouetted image of Mickey Mouse and fairly quickly received a letter asking that I not do that again. It was a nice letter but to the point. There are many large companies that apparently hire outside agencies to monitor the web for violations.

I would not want to see anyone here give legal advice. As a matter of fact many lawyers might not be competent to advise you on this subject. From what I have read it can get pretty complicated.

[GrayBeard]

Right answer but not the RIGHT answer!

I meant what is involved when YOU, Steve, Charlie, etc. apply for a copyright?
How much is involved?

That sort of thing.
I am doing some writing and also some basic pattern designs that I would like to 'protect'...
I know for a fact that some writers just put the "Copyright, 2010, Josie Whosis" on the work and never file it but that doesn't protect anything.

~~~GrayBeard~~~

[Charlie Dearing]

Well most people in this community respect the little copyright mention on a pattern, but one cheap way is to print out the pattern, seal it in an envelope and mail it to yourself.  Don't open it.  The date marked on the envelope shows when it was done and it stays sealed until/unless you go to court.

[budprine]

I come from the photographic community and what many of us do there is file a copyright annually using the government forms available online at: http://www.copyright.gov/forms/.  You must also place the copyright symbol (?) on your work to give notice to anyone attempting to pilfer it.  Read about it at the website given above.  It does not require a lawyer to register it.  It will require a lawyer if someone refuses to comply with your copyright.