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Dawn Ash
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 Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: Suggestions for copyrighting |
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| I want to put some of my drawings/tribal art on for tattooing but i need information on the best and cheapest way to copyright the work I have done. Please give me as much information as possible on the matter. I didnt see any other posts about that particular subject when I did a search. |
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kohlhaas
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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Put it in photoshop, and put "©2007 YourName" over the design, and there ya go  |
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kohlhaas
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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...that would be the cheap way.
The real way is explained at: http://www.copyright.gov/register/visual.html
But honestly... if somebody used one of your tribal designs, would you pay the money to sue? I doubt it. Putting a watermark on it in photoshop is probably your best alternative. |
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hanalotus
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with kohlhaas.
That's assuming your stuff is good enough to warrant worrying about having a copyright in the first place. |
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kohlhaas
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Good point. I was thinking about that while I was having a much-needed cigarette.
Basically, you have to weigh the costs with the benefits. Chances are that nobody's going to steal your designs. If putting your work up is more important to you than the very tiny possibility that they will be used for others, then do it. |
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Dawn Ash
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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hmm.. well I have shown them to some local tattoo places and they like them alot. want more of them *shrugs* I like them, they arent overly detailed, just some stuff I make when im doodling. I was told by the shop workers around here that I need to get them Copyrighted and thats why the concern came up. Thank you very much for your imput.
Dawn |
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kohlhaas
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| Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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I say go with a watermark. It will be waaaaay too expensive and probably not beneficial at all to get them formerly copyrighted...
I'd really like to see your stuff, so I hope you do post it  |
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crazycatlady
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 6:28 am Post subject: |
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go with the watermarking, All my pics have them done if u want to chek out the basic photoshop version. its not perfect but the aim is simply to make life a little more difficult than just snagging the image since most people are that lazy. The only time i'd be worried more about the copyrighting is if you plan on selling your designs, then someone could get there first and sell them screwing you over.
Remember imitation is the highest form of flattery.
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Jibun ni totte Tattoo wa art to ari, jikomanzoku de shika sugimasen |
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Tbacc
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 7:43 am Post subject: |
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copyright tribal art? man just put it out.. if people want it, give it. it's only tribal.
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linx
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: |
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Under the 1976 United States Copyright Act an owner's work is automatically protected from the moment it is created and put in a tangible form. To bring an action of infringement, a work must be copyrighted, which is why some people register their works with the Copyright Office (Library of Congress).
Another possibility is to make a copy of your work, put it in an envelope and send it to yourself registered mail. Ask the post office to tape and stamp all corners of the envelope with their seal. Then keep it in a safe place and don't open it. |
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Dawn Ash
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Now that was great information Linx.. thank you so much. THIS I can do..
I also have the original pen and ink version of everything I make, before I take it and clean it up in photoshop, that can be proof enough that its mine hopefully. |
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hanalotus
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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| linx wrote: | Under the 1976 United States Copyright Act an owner's work is automatically protected from the moment it is created and put in a tangible form. To bring an action of infringement, a work must be copyrighted, which is why some people register their works with the Copyright Office (Library of Congress).
Another possibility is to make a copy of your work, put it in an envelope and send it to yourself registered mail. Ask the post office to tape and stamp all corners of the envelope with their seal. Then keep it in a safe place and don't open it. |
Yeah, but that's not going to guarantee no one will copy it and even if you find out that someone had and took them to court, it would be a long and lengthy process. Legal processes even as mundane as that can be a financial strain. Basically, you have to weigh how much the ends justify the means. I've heard you can mail it to yourself, but I've also heard that's a legally weak way to handle it. You should still watermark your images then otherwise a potential person taking your design could say they didn't know you had it copyrighted. Mailing it to yourself doesn't announce to everyone that they can't use it for themelves. If someone just uses it for their own tattoo design and not for commercial gain AND you didn't do anything beyond mailing it to yourself, you might still have a hard case. Also, with artwork, that becomes hard to prove that it was a direct copy. A small tweak and your case would be weaker.
I say, Dawn Ash, if you are that worried about it, go see a lawyer about doing this properly. Because mailing it to yourself might be cheap, but it won't stop people from copying it and even if you took them to court and churned out a fortune in legal expenses, you still might not have a solid leg to stand on. There are always loopholes and the burden of proof for ALL angles lies on you being the plaintiff. |
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Live4him
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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| linx wrote: |
Another possibility is to make a copy of your work, put it in an envelope and send it to yourself registered mail. Ask the post office to tape and stamp all corners of the envelope with their seal. Then keep it in a safe place and don't open it. |
I had heard this doesn't work.
My dad, who is an inventor, and ran an invention consultant buisness for a while, said it wouldn't work.
Because I was worried about the story I was writing.. I asked him about it |
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linx
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Live4him wrote: |
I had heard this doesn't work. My dad, who is an inventor, and ran an invention consultant buisness for a while, said it wouldn't work. Because I was worried about the story I was writing.. I asked him about it |
I think the "poor man's copyright", if it was sent registered mail and stamped and sealed would establish an official date when the work was created, and be admissible under the rules of evidence. This isn't to say however that it couldn't be torn apart, since pretty much anything can.
The creator of the work would still have to register their work with the Copyright Office in order to bring an action on it. |
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linx
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| Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| hanalotus wrote: |
I've heard you can mail it to yourself, but I've also heard that's a legally weak way to handle it. |
It might be weak way to do it if it was just a regular envelope, but if was sent registered mail, and tape was used on all corners of the envelope, and a postal seal was used to stamp all edges (which USPS will do if you ask them), I think it might add a little more credibility in establishing when the work was created. A registered letter would also provide a verifiable date since it has a control number.
| Quote: | | You should still watermark your images then otherwise a potential person taking your design could say they didn't know you had it copyrighted. |
Agreed.
| Quote: | | Mailing it to yourself doesn't announce to everyone that they can't use it for themelves. |
Agreed. |
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