Posted by eXpedN_TX on 2/13/06 4:38pm
Msg #96811

Should I copyright my website?

Any suggestions on why you would or wouldn't copyright your web site? I have been mulling over the idea for a few weeks now and just not sure if I should bother? I made a couple of graphics on my website, but don't really mind if they are shared....well, it would be nice if someone wouldn't use my logo...

What do you think? Did you copyright yours and why?

TIA

- Melissa

Reply by Charles_Ca on 2/13/06 6:26pm
Msg #96834

I have components of my website copyrighted becasue I don't want anyone else usng them and because I created them myself. I belive it all depends on how you feel about what you ahve done and if somone else would find it of adequate value to steal, you are the onoy one who can anwser that question. If you put copyright and the year on your site you ahve effectively copyrighted it, other than that you can register it with the feds but that is going to cost for the application. Would you go to court to defend your copyright? If you wouldn't then you are better off just having a copyright statement on it. My opinion only, you should talk to an intellectual rights attorney to get the facts!

Reply by MichiganAl on 2/13/06 7:14pm
Msg #96859

No

There's nothing on your site that would have any proprietary value.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 2/14/06 9:46am
Msg #96998

Where are you Al? - n/m

Reply by CaliNotary on 2/13/06 7:17pm
Msg #96860

The only way copyright law will have any effect on your website is if you're willing to persue it if somebody steals something from it.

Reply by eXpedN_TX on 2/13/06 9:45pm
Msg #96915

Thank you for your responses.

I really don't have anything on there that I am worried about someone using so I guess its fine as is. I just would prefer someone not copy my logo idea. I didn't realize you could put copyright info. on the site without paying the $30 fee (in TX). Thanks again.

Reply by Gerry_VT on 2/14/06 3:11pm
Msg #97142

In a former life I worked for a big computer manufacturer, and got
lectures from intellectual property lawyers about every other year
on what was and was not OK.

Your site is already copyrighted. Just writing it down creates the copyright.
Putting a notice and/or registering it just puts you in a better position if
you ever pursue a violation.

So the real question is do you want to give up your rights by putting
a public domain notice on the site; otherwise it is copyrighted.

Also, if you wanted to go to the trouble, you could try to obtain
trademark protection for your logo, but I know even less about
trademarks than I do about other areas of intelectual property.