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Copyright & Patents/Copyright sign on a website

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Expert: - 9/25/2008


Question
Is it illegal to put the copyright symbol at the bottom of your website even though you haven't gotten it copyrighted yet?

Answer
No. In fact, it is a good thing to do. You put the copyright symbol, with the year, and your name (or your company).
It puts the world on notice that that is your creation, your material, and that you know it also. Then, if you want to collect damages, you will have to register it. That is a $20 fee plus whatever you spend on a lawyer, a library card, or a book. Nolo Press, of Berkely, California publishes a book, as I recall, on filing your own copyrights.

Disclaimer:  I cannot give legal advice on copyrights. My area is patent law. However, it is what I do myself & what I have been advised in the past. You need to see an attorney for anything beyond this basic information on how I handle my own stuff.

HOpe this helps.

Check out my free website for lots of free info on intellectual property, books for creative people, books for people afflicted with creative children.

Best wishes on your web site.

Copyright & Patents

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Volunteer

George H. Morgan, P.E., Patent Agent

Expertise

U.S. Patent Law only, no copyright or trademark qualification. I was a volunteer in the past, but my homeland defense activities pulled me away at times, and I was dropped. If you want me back, I am willing to come back.

Experience

Thirty one years as a Registered U.S. Patent Agent and a lifetime in product and manufacturing process and methods development as well as sales and marketing of new products with a number of blue chip corporations.

Organizations
Rotary, Society of Automotive Engineers, American Army Aviation Association, Registered Professional Engineer, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Indiana Guard Reserve Officer

Publications
Various Society of Manufacturing Engineers & Society of Automotive Engineers technical publications. Ref. my web site: http://www.evansville.net/biz/patagent

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Machine Design Option), L.S.U., Baton Rouge, Louisiana; M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics Option), University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri, Helicopter Maintenance Course, 18 weeks, Ft. Sill Army Aviation School, Troop Information and Education Leadership Course, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Numerous Society of Automotive Engineers Seminars, Dale Carnegie Management Training Instructors Course.

Awards and Honors
Bausch & Lomb Science Award, Indiana Homeland Defense Service Ribbon, 2003.

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