Navigating the complicated world of copyright and intellectual property can be difficult. There is so much that you feel you ought to know and yet in many areas you have gaps in your knowledge. If you are a creative person then understanding the world of copyright is integral to your career. You need to understand the area of law in as much depth as you can so that you can protect the things that you create.
Don’t fall into the trap of believing that something you created is always yours. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The law here is hard to understand and can trick you into giving away your rights. With the knowledge of the law, you can protect the things you create from poachers. Protecting your work means protecting your livelihood, which is, of course, vital
What Is Intellectual Property?
Intellectual property protects you from creative theft. According to the Lexix Nexis intellectual property report creative theft is common. When you create something unique from scratch then, you should own the intellectual property of that thing. No one should be able to take your creation and attempt to pass it off as their own.
Understanding the law on copyright and intellectual property is hard. There are instances in which you give up your intellectual property, when you use materials which you do not own. For example, if you use stolen software to create something, you may have to relinquish your rights of copyright.
Don’t Give Away Your Copyright
In an age where we all use the internet on a daily basis, using certain social media platforms comes as second nature. We all use Facebook, Twitter and even LinkedIn to communicate with friends and work colleagues. Nobody bothers to read the terms and conditions when they first enter the site. In neglecting to do so, you could give away the rights to your work.
For example, if you are a wedding photographer and have just completed a shoot of which you are particularly proud. You will want to show off the great photos you have taken. You might post the photos on Facebook to try and attract more business. Many people believe that posting photos on Facebook is harmless, and that is they have a watermark they are safe, but this is not true. When you post a photo on Facebook, you are leasing the copyright of that picture to the Facebook corporation. Should Facebook want to use your photos in an advertising campaign, they can do so. They don’t have to pay you, and they don’t have to ask you. You have in effect given them those photos and said they can do with them what they wish.
There are many instances of social media obtaining the copyright lease to independent work. If you have not read the terms and conditions of your membership then, it is better not to post any of your work on the site itself.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
The only way in which you can protect yourself in the eyes of the law is to seek proper advice. Make an appointment with a lawyer who specialises in the area of copyright law and have them talk to you on the subject. Each case is different depending upon the specifics. You should never assume that you own the copyright to something, always check that this is the case. If you have created something unique which you plan to market, you should seek advice immediately. You will have to pay to copyright your creation, but having the assurance that it is safe will be worthwhile.
