[Sampster]

How exactly artists copyright their digital work?
Can we just put the little circled "c" and our name and the date and it's copyrighted, or do we have to fill out legal forms (and pay money?) to get things safely copyrighted?

For example, how would one go about copyrighting some art and an idea for a card before submitting it to Hallmark or some other company that does cards?

Is writing "copyright" legally binding or if you really want to be sure the company won't take advantage of your idea do you need to do other stuff?

Thanks for answering this rather stupid question, I'm just not sure how it all works (especially since I assume books have to be copyrighted with forms and stuff, but I see so many artworks here "copyrighted" that I can't imagine all the artists filled out individual forms for all their artworks).

[Mikko K]

As a rule of thumb, every artistic creation (song, painting, novel etc.) is automatically copyrighted (ie. without any paperwork) You cannot steal someone's work, whether it has these (C) symbols or not.

Trademarks (tm), registered trademarks (R) or patents include paperwork, and those are more complicated as far as I know.

edit: Unlike a patent, you CAN NOT copyright an idea. Only the particular execution of the idea can be copyrighted. For example, you cannot copyright the subject "space station" but if you paint a space station, that's your work and no one can use it without your permission. They can, however, do their own space station and it's copyright infringement only if it clearly uses parts of your painting or generally looks like your piece. There might even be a percentage like 50% similarity that's required or something, but I'm not sure about this.

Hope this helps a bit.

[B0b]

it used to be that if u changed an image by 20% it was no longer under copyright � but u can no longer change the image in anyway and claim it to be urs, no matter how much u change the original - the copyright will still belong to the originator..

[Reakshun]

digital work still has to be reproduced and printed on paper, right?

That's what you send into the copyright office along with the VA (visual arts) form. www.copyright.gov is where you can download your forms. Later, send your money and "copy" of your copywritten material. Voila.

Oh yeah. Here's a quote Chen Yi Chang, Viz Dev Artist at Disney Feature, passed on:
"Good artist copy. GREAT artist STEAL."

Take from it what you will.

[eyewoo]

[Mikko K]

[Brake Check]

Copyright is to protect book publishers and large corporations. If an artwork is sent to X Publisher..yes, XPublisher could use the idea and copyright it to whoever they chose..the bosses son in law or the corporate payroll artists..
In the music industry...songs were "co-written" i.e copyrighted by the "publisher/recording studio" and the actual songwriter/artist received nothing. Everytime anything copyrighted by a Corporation or wealthy family may become public domain..the Congress changes the copyright law.
Does a small artist have protection...No. The only portection for the small person is talentede..A company or wealthy publisher/producer would hesitate to steal from a well known and talented artists although that did not apply in the 50s, 60s, and 70s to rock and roll artists..many of whom were cheated out of their songs by copyright..
Everything is copyrighted by whoever can take and keep..even what you create..unless some bigger fish doesn't want it...
What I despise are the kindergarten level "don't copy other peoples stuff" b*tches running around the internet ..most of whom scan and color public library books..and claim copyright if someone else scans and colors the same public library book image..
Copyright ..as written.. stifles creativity..The Greeks were threatening to re-copyright PI..during the last Berne Mega Corporation..protect profit rights- International Copyright/rip off the public domain ..Treaty talks..
The public domain promotes creativity.Else. why not let the Greeks copyright PI..?

[Brake Check]

BTW
Not that I have anything worth taking on my site but I encourage anyone to use anything on my pages..
In taking..a person will study..a person may modify..a person may get a better idea or make a different piece and then I will be enriched because I can go their site or their home and see what they have done with..the things I have learned from...geometry (the Greeks) iconography (Russians) Medieval Art (Europe) and Da Vinci..
I do respect an artist's right to thier own work and to make a profit from their talent ..let the law reflect that..
I don't take from living artists or reproduce other peoples work..but God help us all if the Greeks recopyright the triangle and the Arabs recopyright Zero..
http://www.hartake.com/

[spooge demon]

Yes, read the link above. Keep in mind that you do not have to put copyright notice on things to be "protected," but with all things legal, it makes your case easier to make in the event of infringement. The infringer will have a more difficult time explaining the infringement. Or rather you will not have to pay your lawyer to penetrate that defense. Cheaper and easier to just put it on there. Might also deter casual copying, if you care.

Also, the registration might seem a little steep at 30 bucks a pop, but keep in mind that you can register groups of works. You still have the benefits without the large cost and amount of work.

[Brake Check]

I don't know about art copyright but I do know about written works. Usually writers send a copy to themselves and don't open the envelope. That way if the piece is taken, it has a postal date on it when it was sealed. That means if a written work is sent to a publisher, an identical copy is sent to the the writer..so the writer has a record of what and when the piece was sent. Written works are copyrighted when they are created and do not have to be published or submitted for publication to be copyrighted according to my understanding.
I like public domain and I contribute as much as I can to the no copyrigh public domaint ..but I have copyrighted works that I haven't released.
Copyright should be respected ..as a courtesy to living artists but no one should have to recreate the wheel..for fear of violating some bullchit copyright law..
There is a balance there somewhere..

[Exclamation]

Here's how I've approached trademarks and copyrights...

Yes, created works are automatically copyrighted upon creation. You do not have to file a proper copyright record with the government... UNLESS... you are going to make an effort to produce said work commercially. So if you're just drawing or painting for fun, etc., there is no need to file proper papers.

If and when you are publishing your work as a coffee table book at Borders or a comic book or similar commercial ventures, THEN you MUST (or at the least it is very highly recommended that you must) file the papers to secure both your creations and the money you stand to earn from said creations.

Trademarks are a whole other monster; and much like copyrights, you don't need to file papers to claim TM. TM and � can only apply to names or brand slogans (anything identity-related) like Batman� or Taco Bell's "Think Outside The Bun�". Trademark pretty much means "this is a trade business and this is our identification mark".

What you need to file papers for is the � (circle R), which literally means "Registered Trademark". This is registered at the federal level only. Trademarks are usually used in small businesses that deal locally or at a statewide level.

A good example of trademarks coming into play is the Batman logo (the oval with the bat). For years, Batman's logo was completely public domain because all it was was a bat; you can't claim ownership of "bats". So DC Comics put an oval behind it and that was enough to claim TM on the logo.
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Freelance Illustration & Design | A Portrait of Envy