Articles
Copyrights Count!
Copyright protection is granted to "original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression" - that typically includes your operations manual, ad copy, website content and all literature you develop to promote and describe your business. In the competitive world of franchising, you want to be sure all of your important creations, including computer programs and designs, are properly protected from misuse.
While you can formally register for a copyright with the U. S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C., registration is not required for protection. Registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright and should be used for specific and important original work and design. However, federal registration is required should you pursue litigation against an infringer of your work.
You can also simply include the following on any original works to establish your authorship and ownership of the work: The symbol © (the letter C in a circle), and/or the word "Copyright," or the abbreviation "Copr.," the year of first publication of the work and the name of the owner of copyright.
Example: Copyright © 2005 John Doe
