Intellectual Property
Top Rated Copyright Attorney
Your original work can have significant creative and commercial value. Whether you have developed software, written content, created artwork, produced marketing materials, designed a website, or built other original works, understanding your copyright rights can help you protect what you have created.
Artie Pennington Law Offices assists individuals, creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses in Kyle, Austin, and throughout Central Texas with copyright registration, protection, licensing, and disputes.
Copyright is one component of a larger intellectual property strategy. Depending on what you need to protect, your legal strategy may also involve intellectual property, trademarks, trade secrets, patents and patent prosecution, or intellectual property licensing.
Coverage
What Does Copyright Protect?
Copyright protects qualifying original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible form. Depending on the circumstances, copyright protection can apply to:
Copyright does not protect every idea, concept, name, or invention. Determining the correct type of intellectual property protection is therefore an important first step. For example, a business name may involve trademark protection, while a new invention may be better addressed through patents and patent prosecution.
Registration
Do I Need to Register My Copyright?
Copyright generally exists once a qualifying original work is created and fixed in a tangible medium. However, copyright registration provides important legal benefits and can become particularly significant when enforcement is necessary.
Registration also creates a public record concerning the copyright claim. For businesses and creators with commercially valuable content, registration can therefore be an important part of a broader intellectual property protection strategy.
For Businesses
Copyright Protection for Texas Businesses
Copyright issues are not limited to artists and writers. Businesses routinely create copyrightable materials, including websites, photographs, software, manuals, presentations, advertisements, graphics, videos, training materials, and proprietary written content.
Questions can also arise concerning who actually owns the copyright when work is produced by an employee, independent contractor, agency, developer, designer, or other third party. Addressing ownership before a dispute occurs can help reduce uncertainty later.
Software & Technology Copyright Issues
Technology companies can face particularly complicated copyright questions involving software code, documentation, user interfaces, databases, and development agreements.
Attorney Artie Pennington brings an unusual technical perspective to these matters. Before practicing law, he spent more than two decades working in semiconductor development, electronic design automation, software development, consulting, and related business management. That background can be especially relevant when copyright intersects with software development, licensing, trade secrets, patents, or technology transactions.
Artie A. Pennington, Esq. — AttorneyEnforcement
What If Someone Is Using My Work Without Permission?
Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, display, or other use of copyrighted material may raise infringement concerns. The appropriate response depends on the circumstances, including:
Ownership
Who owns the underlying copyright?
Registration
Has the work been registered?
Permission
Was a license or other authorization previously granted?
Scope
How much of the work was used and in what manner?
Business Impact
Is the unauthorized use affecting revenue, reputation, licensing opportunities, or another commercial interest?
Artie Pennington Law Offices can evaluate these issues and help determine appropriate next steps through intellectual property enforcement.
Licensing
Copyright Licensing & Business Transactions
Copyright owners can also allow other parties to use their work through licensing arrangements. A properly structured agreement can address issues such as permitted uses, duration, territory, payment, exclusivity, modifications, sublicensing, and termination.
Businesses developing commercial intellectual property should consider copyright ownership and licensing alongside their broader business contracts and intellectual property licensing strategies.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Copyrights
What is the difference between copyright and trademark?
Copyright generally protects qualifying original works of authorship. Trademarks generally identify the source of goods or services, such as business names, logos, and other brand identifiers.
Does copyright protect an idea?
Copyright generally protects the expression of an idea rather than the underlying idea itself.
Can software be copyrighted?
Software code may qualify for copyright protection. Depending on the technology involved, patents, trade secrets, contracts, and licensing may also be relevant.
What should I do if someone copied my website content?
Preserve evidence of the use and consider speaking with an intellectual property attorney before deciding how to respond. Ownership, registration, the nature of the copied material, and how it is being used can all matter.
Can a business own copyrights?
Yes. Businesses can own copyright rights, although ownership can depend on how and by whom a particular work was created.
Protect Your Creative & Commercial Assets
Intellectual property can become one of the most valuable assets owned by an individual or business. Protecting it early can make ownership clearer and provide additional options when problems arise. Artie Pennington Law Offices assists clients in Kyle, Austin, and communities throughout Central Texas with copyright registration, protection, licensing, and intellectual property matters.
Contact Us
- Telephone: 512-596-0534
- Fax: 512-233-2699
Kyle Law Office
154 Elmhurst Drive, Suite B
Kyle, TX 78640