What is copyright? Copyright protection is provided exclusively by the Copyright Act and arises automatically on the creation of an original work. A copyright owner has the exclusive right to produce, reproduce, perform, or publish a protected literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work, or any substantial portion thereof. The Copyright Act also protects the artist's moral rights, including the right to the integrity of the work, the right to be associated with the work, and the right to remain anonymous. These rights subsist for the life of the author, including the remainder of the calendar year in which the author dies, plus 50 years after the end of that calendar year.

We provide copyright advice on a wide variety of subject matters, including musical works, literature, photography, video and film, television and the Internet. Our copyright services include:

• Copyright searches
• Preparing and filing copyright applications
• Obtaining copyright clearances
• Preparing mechanical licenses
• Negotiating copyright licensing and royalty schedules
• Drafting copyright notices for books, magazines and web sites
• Preparing terms-of-use notices for web sites
• Commencing copyright infringement and piracy actions

Why should I obtain a registration if copyright protection arises automatically? Although copyright protection arises automatically on the creation of the original work, obtaining a copyright registration has certain benefits. These benefits include the deemed notice of copyright to the public, and a presumption of ownership and authorship. A registration can also be used by an author or artist to clarify the scope of their copyright and moral rights before entering into contracts for service or purchase agreements with third parties.