The documents and materials that your company uses — the company website, employee work products, and even photos and videos that your employees post on company social media — are all necessary parts of your business. It’s important to protect the company’s rights in what it creates and to ensure the company doesn’t infringe someone else’s rights when employees use items created by others.
Protect your investment
Copyright law governs all of these things and, unfortunately, the law is both complicated and outdated. In truth, it frequently seems to not make sense, even to savvy business people. Let us help you figure it all out.
With a committed, collaborative, client-focused advocate on your side
In one quick, free phone call, we can help you:
- Identify any copyright or similar issues you may face
- Explain the risks they could pose
- Identify the options available to you
- Discuss the pros and cons of those options
- Help you make the decisions that are best for your business
Since 2001, we have represented clients of all types and sizes in copyright matters. Our clients have included:
- A growing, family-owned graphic design firm based in Austin
- An international firm designing high-end housewares based in New York City
- Software, website, and mobile app designers
- Secondary and post-secondary educational institutions
- Individual authors, artists, and other creators
Our team understands that each client’s concerns, needs, and resources are particular to that client. Our uncommon breadth of experience uniquely positions us to collaborate with each client to find solutions that best meet that client’s needs.
We can assist clients in:
- Protecting their rights in works they create or acquire
- Legally using works created by others
- Licensing the use of their works to others
- Analyzing claims of infringement
- Addressing questions of legal ownership
- Analyzing fair use rights
- Preparing policies and procedures to minimize risk and maximize rights
- Addressing issues associated with user-generated content
In one quick, free phone call, we will help you:
- Identify any copyright or similar issues you may face
- Explain the risks they could pose
- Identify the options available to you
- Discuss the pros and cons of those options
- Employers own the copyrights in works created by employees, but the same is usually not true for works created by independent contractors, unless the appropriate paperwork is in place.
- Copyright protection is automatic upon creation of a work, so the lack of a copyright symbol or statement doesn’t mean it’s legal to copy something.
- Registering your copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office enhances your rights.
- You can infringe copyright even if you don’t intend to infringe, don’t realize you’re infringing, and don’t profit from your use of someone else’s work.
Gretchen McCord is well-qualified and experienced in the field of copyright law. What makes her stand out from others is her adaptability and willingness to adjust to the unique demands of her immediate audience. She went above and beyond tailoring her work to our needs. Her ongoing support and advice, even after completing services, is the most surprising and appreciated aspect of Gretchen’s true willingness to be not only supportive, but also exceptional. I plan on using Gretchen’s services in the future, and would highly recommend her.