How can I protect my intellectual property from theft on the internet?
January 9, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Alice Falk
Dear lawyer,
My name is Otto Seiler and I am an artist who mainly presents his works on the Internet. Lately, I have noticed that my images and texts are being shared on other websites or social media without my permission. This means that my intellectual property is being stolen and I am potentially losing income as a result.
This situation is causing me great concern, as I invest a lot of time and effort in creating my works and I find it unfair that others are benefiting from them without seeking my approval. I would like to know what measures I can take to protect my intellectual property from theft on the Internet.
Are there legal steps I can take to take action against those who use my works without permission? Are there ways to mark or protect my works on the Internet to prevent theft? What precautions can I take to secure my rights as an author and prevent potential violations of my intellectual property?
I am looking forward to your expertise and any advice on how I can effectively protect my intellectual property. Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Otto Seiler
Dear Mr. Seiler,
Thank you for your message and your trust in my expertise in the field of copyright. I am sorry to hear that you are facing theft of your intellectual property. It is important that you protect your rights as an author to avoid potential loss of income and secure your creative works.
Regarding your question about what actions you can take to protect your intellectual property from theft on the internet, there are various legal steps you can take. First and foremost, it is important that you register your works to have official proof of your authorship. This can be done, for example, by submitting your works to a copyright office.
Furthermore, you can take legal action against those who use your works without permission by initiating legal proceedings. This may include sending cease and desist letters to the individuals or initiating a lawsuit. It is important that you gather evidence of the theft, such as screenshots of the relevant websites or social media posts, to support your claims.
To prevent theft, you can mark or protect your works online. This can be done, for example, by adding a watermark or a copyright notice. There are also specialized services and tools that allow you to protect your works and monitor their use.
In addition, you should ensure that you clearly communicate your rights as an author and, if necessary, enter into licensing agreements with other parties to regulate the use of your works. It is advisable to regularly monitor the internet for possible infringements of your intellectual property and take legal action if needed.
I hope this information helps you and enables you to effectively protect your intellectual property. If you have any further questions or need legal assistance, I am here to help.
Best regards,
Alice Falk
Copyright lawyer
