Copyrights

Copyrights are valuable intellectual property assets and are essential for maximizing protection for creative works. IP attorney Sarah Walkington draws on more than 20 years of experience in assisting clients nationwide with a wide range of copyright legal issues. Sarah’s personalized approach and dedication to delivering cost-effective, high-quality legal services ensure exceptional value for every client.

United States Copyright Laws

Copyright protection, governed by complex federal laws, safeguards original creative works that have been fixed in a physical form of expression that others can see, hear, or experience. Copyright protection blankets various forms of creative expression, such as:

• Literary, musical, and dramatic works
• Artistic, graphic, photographic, and sculptural works
• Audiovisual works
• Audio recordings
• Architectural works

However, certain items, such as abstract ideas, titles, names, short phrases, slogans, familiar symbols or designs, and some other types of written material are not copyrightable. If you are unsure whether your work qualifies for copyright protection, Sarah Walkington can provide valuable advice. Copyright owners enjoy exclusive rights to reproduce the copyrighted work, prepare derivative works, and distribute, sell, and display the copyrighted work publicly. As intellectual property, copyrights may also be the subject of contractual agreements in which the owner licenses, assigns, sells, or otherwise transfers their legal rights. Though copyright protection exists from the moment of creation, it is advisable for copyright owners to take additional steps to register their work with the United States Copyright Office. While registration is not a prerequisite for having legal rights, it is necessary to enforce those legal rights through legal action. Moreover, copyright registration offers other specific statutory benefits that can prove invaluable.

Copyright Legal Services at Walkington Law

If you’ve created a copyrightable work, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and take the necessary steps to ensure its full protection under the law. Intellectual property attorney Sarah Walkington offers a wide range of copyright services, including:

• Counseling on copyright matters, including eligibility and scope of copyright protection, the registration process, and potential infringement
• Assisting with copyright registration
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating copyright licenses, assignments, and other contractual agreements relating to copyrights
• Evaluating potential infringement and enforcement options
• Implementing cost-effective enforcement actions, including issuing cease-and-desist letters, takedown actions under the Digital Millennial Copyright Act (DMCA) for online copyright infringement, and conducting settlement negotiations

Copyright Registration

Sarah serves as a trusted advisor on copyright law for clients who produce tangible creative works within the scope of U.S. copyright law. She can evaluate your copyright needs and collaborate with you to develop a comprehensive plan for on-going protection of your legal rights. Sarah ensures clients have all the necessary information to make informed decisions when any issues arise.

Copyright Licenses and Agreements

For copyright owners looking to license or transfer rights to others, written agreements are essential to safeguarding legal rights. Sarah can assist you by drafting, reviewing, and negotiating copyright licenses and other contractual agreements. She can also advise you in providing necessary notices on copyrighted works.

Copyright Enforcement

Copyright infringement, especially in online environments, is prevalent. Sarah provides counsel and representation in cases of potential infringement, taking necessary steps to curtail infringement and explaining available enforcement options based on the specific circumstances. If litigation becomes necessary, Sarah provides a referral to a highly qualified IP litigation lawyer and offers litigation support services as part of her freelance IP practice.