Online Businesses in 2020 - Does Your Website Need a Copyright Policy?
Yes, it is wise to have a copyright policy for your website to protect the content you publish on your website. It is not mandatory to use a copyright policy for websites, but it can prevent people from stealing your work and using it for purposes that might be contradictory to your company’s vision and purpose.
Furthermore, use of your pictures or content in a negative manner could hurt your company’s reputation. Our Maryland business attorney can help you protect your website content and pursue companies or individuals who violate your copyright policy.
What is a Website Copyright Policy?
A website copyright policy is a written notice on your website that states you own the copyright to the website. The copyright protects all information on your website, including written content and pictures you create or purchase for your website.
All written content and artwork is protected under United States copyright laws, even if you do not register the work with the U.S. Copyright Office. However, someone using your content may claim they were not aware it was copyrighted. Using a copyright notice for your website dispels this defense if you need to sue someone over website copyright infringement.
What Does a Website Copyright Notice Need to Contain?
There is not a statutory form you must use for a website copyright notice. However, three specific pieces of information must be included in a copyright notice for the notice to be valid:
· The copyright owner’s name;
· The date the work was published; and,
· The word “copyright” or the copyright symbol “©.”
The name of the owner for a website copyright notice is typically the owner of the website. For instance, the owner of the ABC Law Firm would be “ABC Law Firm.” However, if you use a photograph or a guest blog, the owner may differ from the website owner. To protect yourself and the owner, add a specific copyright notice attached to the photograph, blog post, or other content. If you purchased the content, including exclusive ownership, your website copyright notice protects the content.
The copyright notice must also contain the year the website was published. Published typically means the year the website was launched and accessible by the public. If you make minor changes to the website, the content should be protected. However, major changes may require an updated policy. Likewise, new work may require a separate copyright date. Some website owners prefer to use a series of years in the copyright notice to ensure the copyright notice covers all information on the website.
Lastly, the copyright notice must contain the word “Copyright” or the copyright symbol. Some website designers use both the word and the symbol to make it clear the material is copyrighted. Also, some website designers place the copyright at the bottom of every website page. A copyright notice on the home page protects the entire website, but some people place the notice on each page to avoid questions about what is and is not protected.
A copyright notice may also contain a hyperlink to a detailed written copyright policy and terms of use for the website.
Contact Our Maryland Business Attorney for More Information
Protecting the work you create helps protect your company’s reputation and profits. Our Maryland business attorney helps you create strategies and policies that protect your business, including contracts, agreements, and notices that protect your trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, and intellectual property.
