Copyright

Legal Protection for Original Works

Original expression is the foundation of creativity, innovation, and cultural impact—and under U.S. law, it’s also a legally protected asset. Whether you’re a business creating proprietary content, an artist developing a body of work, or a software developer writing original code, your work carries significant commercial and reputational value. Copyright intellectual property law ensures that creators have the legal tools they need to control, monetize, and defend that value.

At its core, copyright law grants exclusive rights to the creator of an original work fixed in a tangible medium. These rights include the ability to reproduce the work, prepare derivative works, distribute copies, publicly perform or display the work, and license its use to others. These protections are essential to preventing unauthorized use—and to ensuring that the economic and moral interests of the creator are respected and enforceable.

While copyright attaches automatically at the moment of creation, formal registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is often critical. Registration is required before you can initiate an infringement lawsuit, and it provides access to statutory damages, attorney’s fees, and a public record of ownership. For businesses and individuals alike, registration strengthens the enforceability of rights and enhances the credibility of ownership in the eyes of courts, platforms, and third parties.

As a full-service copyright intellectual property law firm, Scarinci Hollenbeck goes beyond mere registration. We help clients understand what their copyright protects, how it fits into a broader intellectual property strategy, and how to structure licensing, collaboration, and distribution relationships to safeguard against confusion, conflict, or loss of rights.

Our attorneys advise clients across a wide range of creative and commercial industries. We’ve helped:

• Architects protect drawings, plans, and finished buildings under architectural works provisions
• Technology companies register and license source code and user interface designs
• Marketing firms structure copyright ownership in agency-client relationships
• Publishers and authors draft contracts that preserve attribution and revenue participation
• Musicians and composers manage publishing, sampling, and digital licensing rights
• Retail and consumer brands secure copyright protection for product packaging, photography, and ad campaigns

Each industry brings unique questions: Who owns the copyright when multiple creators are involved? What happens if a contractor designs a website or writes content for a business? Can a company prevent a former employee from using work created on the job? How can digital content be protected from unauthorized online sharing? Our attorneys are well-versed in the answers and build legal strategies that address them at every level—from contract structuring to courtroom enforcement.

We also understand that enforcement is a growing concern, especially in an era of mass online distribution and AI-generated content. Unauthorized use can happen in seconds—and spread across platforms globally. Our team responds quickly and decisively when our clients’ rights are threatened, coordinating enforcement actions, takedown requests, and, when necessary, federal litigation.

But protection isn’t just about reaction—it’s about prevention. That’s why we help our clients proactively develop internal systems for tracking ownership, managing licenses, and avoiding third-party infringement. We routinely advise businesses on copyright clearance procedures, fair use analysis, work-for-hire rules, and content development policies that minimize risk.

Ultimately, copyright protection is about control. It’s about ensuring that creators and rights holders determine how their work is used, shared, and monetized. At Scarinci Hollenbeck, we don’t view copyright as a static concept. We treat it as a living component of your business or creative identity—something to be actively managed, vigilantly protected, and strategically deployed. With a deep understanding of federal law and industry realities, our attorneys offer more than legal advice—we deliver frameworks for sustainable success.

Copyright Services

Our attorneys offer comprehensive support across the full lifecycle of a copyrighted work—from creation to enforcement. Our copyright services include:

1. Copyright Registration

• Preparing and filing applications with the U.S. Copyright Office
• Advising on the timing, scope, and strategy of registrations
• Managing bulk or ongoing copyright filings for content-driven businesses

2. Copyright Ownership & Work-for-Hire Agreements

• Determining authorship and ownership in collaborative works
• Drafting and reviewing work-for-hire, freelance, and employee agreements
• Advising on copyright transfer and assignment procedures

3. Licensing & Rights Management

• Drafting licensing agreements tailored to digital, print, and broadcast media
• Negotiating publishing rights, performance rights, and syndication deals
• Structuring royalty arrangements and revenue-sharing models

4. Infringement Counseling & Enforcement

• Issuing cease-and-desist letters and DMCA takedown notices
• Pursuing claims for copyright infringement in federal court
• Advising on fair use defenses, statutory damages, and injunctions

5. Risk Assessment & IP Strategy

• Conducting copyright audits to identify unprotected or misused assets
• Developing internal policies for copyright clearance and rights tracking
• Advising content-driven companies on compliance and enforcement programs

Copyright Advisors for the Creative Economy

At Scarinci Hollenbeck, our copyright team combines legal experience with an understanding of the creative process. We serve clients across media, publishing, technology, fashion, education, architecture, and the arts. Whether you’re protecting a single body of work or managing an evolving content portfolio, our attorneys help you secure your rights, avoid disputes, and capture the value of what you’ve created.