Video Copyright Infringement Lawyers Answer Your Questions
Our US copyright infringement attorneys at Sanders Law Group represent clients nationwide and around the globe who are creative professionals. Our lawyers understand how much time and effort you put into creating original content and how hard it can be to “make it” as a creative artist.
You probably want to share your artistry with the world. We want to help you ensure your hard work and business are protected.
Our copyright lawyers engage with videographers, video producers, and other individuals involved in video creation and production to ensure you receive compensation for your work. When copyright infringement violates your rights, our goal is to secure the maximum damages allowed by law.
In today’s digital world, creative professionals have worries they never had before. It feels easy to copy videos because they are so readily available online.
If you see your video somewhere it does not belong, do you know what to do? Do you know about your legal rights? Let’s address some frequently asked questions about video copyright and video copyright infringement.
How Do I Copyright My Video?
Your copyright exists the moment you produce or film a video. You don’t need to do anything else– copyright attaches to your work automatically when it is in tangible form.
You automatically have the exclusive rights to sell, copy or recreate your video. No one may use it without your permission.
You can, for extra assurance, include verbiage at the start of your video that indicates you are the copyright holder and that no part of the video may be used or copied without your permission.
Must I Register My Copyright With The Copyright Office?
Does It Make A Difference When I Register My Video Copyright?
You are not required to register your video unless you want to file a copyright infringement lawsuit seeking damages in court. You can file your video any time before then, even after the alleged infringement occurs.
However, the timing of your registration can affect your compensation award if you successfully prove infringement.
You can only receive actual damages for infringements that occur before the registration date.
For infringements occurring after the registration date, you can elect statutory damages. For this reason, you should register your video with the U.S. Copyright Office as soon as possible after you create your video.
What Is The Difference Between Actual Damages And Statutory Damages?
Actual damages refer to the financial loss you sustained because of the copyright infringement.
Actual damages can include the profits you lost or the money earned by the party who used your video. The amount of actual damages are calculated on a case-by-case basis.
Statutory damages refer to an amount determined by federal law with no real regard for the actual damages incurred. The amount of statutory damages can range from $750 to $30,000 per infringement. The amount can increase up to $150,000 for willful copyright infringement.
How Long Does My Video Copyright Last?
For videos produced as of January 1, 1978, copyright lasts for the creator’s lifetime plus 70 years.
Can I Lose My Exclusive Copyright?
Posting videos online is one way people can lose or give up their exclusive rights. It is important to understand what you are getting into when uploading videos to different platforms.
Most hosting platforms ask you to give up at least some of your rights to the material. For example, YouTube requires you to grant it non-exclusive rights to the videos you upload. In this instance, you retain ownership of your video and can do anything you want with it. However, Google gets the same privileges.
Consider reading the fine print before sharing your videos to understand what rights you might be sacrificing.
Of course, you can negotiate licensing agreements as well to grant permission to specific individuals or business to use your videos and pay you accordingly.
Does A Release Form Affect My Copyright?
No, a release form does not have anything to do with copyright. A release form is a document that gives you the right to film another person and use the footage for your video project, often in any way you see fit. Participants in your video grant permission for you to use the material in whatever way the document states. The release form can protect videographers from future legal issues.
What Should I Do When Someone Is Using My Video Without Permission?
If you find your video on a website, but you did not upload it, or you see clips of your video in someone else’s work, what can you do? Consider the following:
- Gather evidence
- Send or ask a lawyer to send a cease and desist letter
- Consider making a take-down request or having a lawyer do so
- Speak to a copyright attorney about your legal rights and options
What Can A Copyright Infringement Lawyer Do For Me?
Copyright infringement attorneys can help you understand your options to end copyright infringement and collect any damages you are entitled to. At Sanders Law Group, our US Copyright Attorneys can send demand letters, issue take-down requests, negotiate copyright infringement settlements, file copyright lawsuits, and secure appropriate damages for violations of your copyright.
Videographers: Call Sanders Law Group To Protect Your Copyright
If you are a videographer or video producer who suspects someone is using your videos without your permission, call our US Copyright Attorneys today at 888-348-3090 to schedule a free, no-risk case evaluation.
Our lawyers at Sanders Law Group work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid from your recovery. There are no up-front costs or hourly fees for you to concern yourself with.
