Anyone have their website under a legal copyright?

[Chris_A]

Just curious who here spends the money for it. I just did it tonight, I know its not going to prevent people from taking content from my site but the reason I bought the copyright was so I'd have a legal foot to stand on when I am advertising my services and other competing sites take content from me to put in their ad listings. I am sick of it and I know by having the copyright I can get any legit site to either change that persons ad or make them do it.

[RNK Concepts]

Let me know if this works for you. I find it absurd that with the article-spinners that are so prevalent on the web today, that anyone would be so bold as to directly copy any content ... Of course, I never thought I would lose hundreds of thousands of dollars to cheap, cookie-cutter web designers either.

[olman]

By default, in the US, your unique content is automatically copy written and cannot be reused (except CCL stuff). However, you can't sue if it's not registered with the Copyright office. The good thing is that if something does happen, you can register after the fact.
Check the US copyright office FAQ http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

[RIPG]

Originally Posted by olman

By default, in the US, your unique content is automatically copy written and cannot be reused (except CCL stuff). However, you can't sue if it's not registered with the Copyright office. The good thing is that if something does happen, you can register after the fact.
Check the US copyright office FAQ http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

Wouldn't that mean you can't do anything about someone using your work?
For example if I made a wallpaper website, and someone uses the wallpapers I created for their own website.. What could i do about it? (without of course buying a copyright?)

[olman]

Not at all. It's still copyright infringement, and you have every legal right to request that they remove it. If I recall, The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA) would apply here, and you can petition Google to have their material removed from the SE. Also, you could contact them directly to inform them that they are in violation of the DMCA and need to remove the work. If they fail to comply, you could contact their web host, who I believe has to act under the "Safe Harbor" clause.
If you wanted to file a lawsuit, THEN you would have to register the copyright.

I'm not a lawyer, and certainly not an expert, but I've seen this happen before. If it's a concern, and if it's costing you revenue, I would suggest contacting a lawyer.

[RIPG]

Originally Posted by olman

Not at all. It's still copyright infringement, and you have every legal right to request that they remove it. If I recall, The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA) would apply here, and you can petition Google to have their material removed from the SE. Also, you could contact them directly to inform them that they are in violation of the DMCA and need to remove the work. If they fail to comply, you could contact their web host, who I believe has to act under the "Safe Harbor" clause.
If you wanted to file a lawsuit, THEN you would have to register the copyright.

I'm not a lawyer, and certainly not an expert, but I've seen this happen before. If it's a concern, and if it's costing you revenue, I would suggest contacting a lawyer.

Right now, I'm in the making of a gaming website, and do not need a copyright, but all this information is very helpful for my plans in the future, thanks for your input. =]

[olman]

Any time!

[cashgators]

I wasn't aware you had to spend any money to get your site copy right protected. As long as copyright information is posted and the works are original and of your own, don't you own the copyrights?