While it’s commonly believed that any passing thought or idea can be copyrighted, there are specific criteria in order for something to be eligible for this type of protection. One important one is that it must be “fixed in a …
What Can Be Copyrighted? A Look at Acceptable Categories of Intellectual Property Read more »
If you’re a musician, a business owner, a writer, or any other profession in which you might hire a third party to create intellectual property for you, you need to know about the work for hire agreement—your legal claim to …
Work For Hire Agreement: What it Is and Why You Need It Read more »
Trademarks—words or images that connect products to the companies they come from—are commonly understood in terms of their modern (R) and TM signifiers. But trademarks have a long, fascinating history that reaches back to Biblical times and beyond. Let’s take …
Many things can be protected by a copyright: text, images, photographs, videos. But can a website be protected by a copyright? While “website” is not currently a category of intellectual property recognized by the US Copyright Office, it’s made up …
TM vs. R—The Showdown What’s the difference between TM vs. R? Do trademarks need to be registered before being claimed as trademarks? What is a trademark—and what isn’t? The decision to use “TM” or “R” is not an arbitrary one; …
Intellectual Property: Defined Intellectual property, at its simplest, refers to property or materials developed through creative thought and ideas, regardless of whether those materials were created spontaneously or commissioned. Who or what is the owner of the materials depends on …
Intellectual Property: Copyrights, Trademarks, and Patents Read more »
What makes a successful musician? Talent, certainly, and dedication to the craft, and perseverance—but an important aspect of being a working musician is the business aspect, and whether you’re interested in that part or not, it’s important to understand how …
Intellectual Property Forms for Successful Musicians Read more »
The question of who owns a copyright depends entirely on the specifics surrounding the creation of the material. Let’s look at a few common circumstances to shed some light on how copyright ownership is determined. By default, the copyright is …
Copyright Ownership: Who Is the Rightful Owner of New Works? Read more »