Copyright

Home / Practices / Copyright
All practices
Intellectual Property and TechnologyCopyright

Our Copyright practice helps clients protect and enforce rights in creative works including software, literary works, music, visual arts, and digital content through registration, licensing, and litigation.

Protecting Creative Works and Digital Content

Copyright law provides essential protection for creative expression across all media. MC Law's Copyright practice helps clients secure, manage, and enforce copyright protection for the full range of copyrightable works, from traditional literary and artistic works to software, databases, and digital content.

Copyright Registration and Protection

Strategic copyright registration strengthens enforcement options and creates valuable legal presumptions. We advise clients on registration strategies, prepare and file applications with the Copyright Office, and manage copyright portfolios.

Software and Digital Content

Software copyright presents unique challenges at the intersection of copyright and technology law. We advise on copyright protection for source code, object code, user interfaces, and databases.

Copyright Licensing

Effective licensing monetizes creative works while preserving rights. We structure and negotiate publishing agreements, software licenses, content distribution deals, synchronization licenses, and digital rights arrangements.

Enforcement and Litigation

When infringement occurs, we pursue remedies aggressively. Our litigators handle copyright infringement claims in federal court, seeking injunctions, actual and statutory damages, and attorneys' fees.

Frequently asked questions

Copyright protects original works of authorship fixed in tangible form, including literary works, software, music, visual arts, and audiovisual content. It does not protect ideas, facts, or functional elements.

For works created today, copyright lasts for the author's life plus 70 years. Works made for hire and anonymous works have 95-year terms from publication or 120 years from creation.

No, copyright arises automatically upon creation. However, registration is required to sue for infringement and enables statutory damages and attorneys' fees.

Fair use permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. It's determined case-by-case based on four statutory factors.

Yes, software source code and object code are protected as literary works. However, copyright doesn't protect underlying ideas, algorithms, or functional elements—only the particular expression.

Options include cease and desist demands, DMCA takedown notices for online infringement, and federal court litigation seeking injunctions, damages, and attorneys' fees.

Document products

Related document products

Order attorney-drafted documents related to this practice.

Browse all products

Bring our copyright team to your next matter.

Get in touch