1. Definition

American copyright is a kind of intellectual property protected by the United States Constitution. As long as the author fixes the work in a tangible medium of expression and obtains legal authorization, the relevant rights and interests of the owner of the original work can be protected. Copyright law can protect many different types of works, including paintings, photographs, illustrations, musical compositions, sound recordings, computer programs, books, poems, blogs, movies, architectural works, plays, and more.

2. Registration Object

everyone can be a copyright owner, such as taking a photo, writing a poem, writing a blog or recording a new song, is the author and copyright owner. In addition to the creators of the work, companies, organizations, and others can also be copyright holders. Copyright law allows ownership through "works made for employment", which stipulates that works created by employees within the scope of employment belong to the employer. The principle of employment also applies to certain independent contracting relationships or certain types of commissioned work. Copyright ownership can also come from contracts such as transfers or from other types of transfers such as wills and bequests.

3. protection period

copyright protection depends on the time of creation of the work. Under current law, the term of copyright for works created on or after 1 January 1978 is 70 years after the author's death. If the work is a joint work, the term is 70 years after the death of the last surviving author. For anonymous or pseudonymous works and works made for hire, the term of copyright protection is 95 years after publication or 120 years after creation, whichever is earlier.

4. Chinese-created works be copyrighted in the United States?

can register. The United States Copyright Office provides that any work protected by United States copyright law may be registered. Including many foreign works, all unpublished works, regardless of the nationality of the author, can be protected in the United States. Works created by the author in the United States, where the author resides, or in a country that has a copyright treaty with the United States are protected by United States copyright law.

5. registration benefits

1. A work may be registered in order to bring a copyright infringement action. 2. If the registration is obtained before or within five years after the publication of the work, the certificate of registration will constitute prima facie evidence of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the certificate (such as the author and the date of completion). 3. Advance registration also enables copyright owners to seek statutory damages, attorneys' fees and costs for infringements occurring after the effective date of registration. The court can also increase the statutory damages award to a maximum of $150,000 if the defendant's infringement is found to have been intentional. Copyright owners can maximize their protection from the importation of copies by recording their registered copyright with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The immediate benefit of copyright registration is the creation of a public record that lets the world know the owner's copyright claims.

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