How to Register a Copyright in Nevada

Introduction

Registering a copyright is a simple process. You can even register a copyright in Nevada online, but it’s important to know the legal implications. Here we’ll take you through the steps of registering your work and the benefits (and drawbacks) of doing so.

About Copyright

Copyright identifies an individual or a company as the creator of a work, and with the right to stop others from using that work. Copyright is a form of intellectual property that prevents others from copying your original ideas and using them in their own works without your permission.

Copyright protects original works of authorship present in any tangible medium of expression. This protection includes computer software, musical compositions, plays, and other dramatic works (including motion pictures), literary works (including computer software), graphic arts works including pictorial maps and architectural plans but excluding motion picture films and sound recordings; pantomimes.

Copyright has one form, which covers all types of works, except sound recordings. There are different registration procedures for sound recordings. A Phonogram, a form of intellectual property, is responsible for covering sound recordings.

Register Copyright Before Someone Infringes Upon it

Copyright protects your work from someone else using it. If you are publishing your work in any way, whether it be on paper, as an audio recording, or a video file and distributing it to the public, then you need to register copyright in Nevada before someone infringes upon it.

To register a copyright in Nevada with the U.S. Copyright Office, you can:

●    Register online by filling out an application form at https://copyright.gov/forms/. The application fee is $35 USD per title (i.e., book) or $55 USD per group of related titles (such as a series). You can pay using a credit card or check. If paying by check, make sure you make it payable to “Register of Copyrights”. Mail it along with two copies of each document, that you want to register as copyrights, as attachments to the address provided on their website at https://www.copyrightoffice.gov/forms/. OR

●    Mail your completed application form along with two copies of each document that has been copyrighted attached thereto via certified mail return receipt requested addressed: Library of Congress Processing Division PO Box 70401 Washington DC 20024-0401 USA

For How Long Does a Copyright Exist?

In most cases, the length of copyright protection is 70 years. This means that an author can register their work and receive the benefits of a registered copyright for up to 70 years. The only exception is if you are a joint author and one of your co-authors dies after the work was published but before its registration in the Copyright Office (a process that takes several weeks). If this happens, then your copyright expires 70 years after your last surviving co-author’s death instead of 70 years from when it was created.

Takeaway

Registering a copyright is easy but there are some things you should know about this process.

●    Registering copyright is not difficult, but it does require that you know what you are registering and for what purpose.

●    You should also be aware of how long your copyright will last, who owns the work and whether or not you can transfer ownership to another person or entity.

Conclusion

We hope you have learned more about registering copyright in Nevada. It’s not an easy process, but it is worth it if you want to protect your work. Remember that this only applies in the U.S., so if someone copies something outside of this territory, there are no legal recourse options available.