Can I copyright my own ideas?
January 22, 2022 | 45,00 EUR | answered by Chloé Tressel
Dear Copyright Lawyer,
My name is Norbert Köhler and I work as a freelance graphic designer. Lately, I have developed some new ideas and creations that I would like to protect from unauthorized use. I am concerned that my ideas could be copied or used without my permission by other individuals.
I have already done some research on copyright law, but I am unsure if I can actually protect my own ideas under copyright. I wonder if it is possible to register my designs, graphics, and works as intellectual property and how I should go about doing so.
Can you explain to me what exactly falls under copyright protection and what steps I need to take to protect my ideas from unlawful use? Are there specific formal requirements that I need to follow to legally secure my works? I want to ensure that my creative works are protected and that I can take legal action in case of copyright infringement.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with information and advice on how I can protect my intellectual property rights. Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely, Norbert Köhler
Dear Mr. Köhler,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the protection of your creative ideas and works through copyright. As a freelance graphic designer, it is important to protect your intellectual property rights to ensure that your work is not used or copied without permission.
Copyright protects works of literature, art, and science that are a personal intellectual creation. This includes graphics, designs, photos, music pieces, texts, and software, among others. This means that your creative ideas and works are automatically protected by copyright as soon as they are fixed in a medium such as paper, file, or on a storage medium. Therefore, you do not need to take any specific steps to obtain this protection.
However, it may be useful to register your works additionally in order to more easily prove that you are the author in case of copyright infringement. Such registration is not mandatory to enforce copyright. For example, you can register your works with a copyright office or have a notarial certificate created regarding the creation of your works.
There are no specific formal requirements that you must meet to legally secure your works. However, it is advisable to document your copyright by adding a copyright notice to your works (e.g. "Copyright © Norbert Köhler") and indicating the date of creation. This serves as evidence of your authorship.
In case of copyright infringement, you can take legal action against the person who has used your works without your permission. You can claim injunctions and damages, and if necessary, take legal action against the infringement.
I hope this information helps you and answers your questions regarding copyright protection for your creative works. If you need further assistance or legal advice, I am at your disposal.
Sincerely,
Chloé Tressel
Copyright Lawyer
