Establishing a copyright is possibly the most important initiative you can take to protect your work. So when it gets copied by another party, this can be devastating. Continue reading to learn more about what you should do if your copyright gets copied and how an experienced New Jersey copyright lawyer at Ingber Law Firm can help you explore your legal options.
How does a copyright work in the state of New Jersey?
Firstly, a copyright is considered a set of exclusive rights that are granted to you as the author or creator of an original piece of work. Such work can be literary, musical, dramatic, pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works, among others.
With a copyright, you will be provided with both the credit and recognition that you deserve for your work, and overall, your work will be protected. Specifically, the following will be protected:
- Your exclusive right to reproduce your work in copies or phonorecords.
- Your exclusive right to prepare works based on your original work.
- Your exclusive right to distribute copies or phonorecords of your work to the public.
- Your exclusive right to publicly perform your work.
- Your exclusive right to publicly display your work.
What are my options if my copyright gets copied by another party?
You must understand that material that is copyrighted on or after January 1, 1978, is protected from the date of its creation until 70 years after your death. In addition, anonymous material or material that is created or contracted under another name is protected for 95 years after its publication or 120 years from the date it was created.
With this, you can likely assume that your copyright is still protected and that it was unlawfully copied. So then, you can proceed with an intellectual property lawsuit. You have several options at your disposal with your lawsuit. For one, you can recover the amount of monetary loss plus any profits, or you can recover statutory damages anywhere between $750 to $30,000. Second, you may recover up to $150,000 in damages if you can prove willful infringement. And lastly, you may be able to recover damages for attorney fees and costs.
This can all be made possible with the assistance of a skilled Essex County, New Jersey intellectual property lawyer. Pick up the phone and inquire about our services today.
CONTACT OUR ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY FIRM
Whether you’re looking to register a copyright or trademark, are facing a dispute, or otherwise require the assistance of an experienced New Jersey intellectual property lawyer, you’re in the right place. Contact Ingber Law Firm today to schedule your initial consultation with our skilled and dedicated legal team.
