Photography can be an incredible talent that takes a lot of skill to produce something of true value. Many photographers promote their work online and in other public spaces, which can subject them to bad actors who engage in copyright infringement. A Boca Raton photography copyright infringement lawyer can help you protect your accomplishments by registering the work with the U.S. Copyright Office and representing your interests in an infringement lawsuit. Ask our copyright lawyers for help when you need to protect your work.

Copyright Registration Options for Photography

Copyright registration of photographs, whether published or unpublished, is the first step toward ensuring the full benefits of the creative work. Registration offers copyright owners of photography with several benefits over their work by establishing a public record of the claim over the creative work. These benefits are available through federal U.S. copyright laws and generally include the following:

  • The exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, display, and license the photography
  • The right to file a copyright infringement lawsuit
  • Prima facie evidence of the owner’s copyright over the photos
  • Photos registered prior to or within three months of publication have a right to certain statutory damages

A photographer’s copyright registration options will vary depending on two factors. The first factor is whether they are registering a single photo or a group of photos. The second determining factor is whether the photo is published or unpublished. A photography copyright infringement lawyer can assist photographers in Boca Raton in choosing which registration option makes sense for their work and then complete the necessary registration requirements. The process involves submission of an application form, payment of the filing fee, and the deposit of a copy of the photo. For group registration, applications must also provide a list that includes the title and file name for each photograph. Photographers can submit up to 750 photos for each group registration application.

What Photographers Can Do About Copyright Infringement of Their Work

An infringement lawsuit is the strongest enforcement mechanism a photographer can have to stop violations of their copyrights and to recover any available damages. A Boca Raton lawyer who handles photography copyright infringement can also send a cease-and-desist notice that may be sufficient to stop further infringement. However, filing an infringement lawsuit can be preferable and necessary to deter further infringement from other parties in the future. A successful court ruling from an infringement lawsuit will typically provide the following benefits to the copyright owner:

  • An injunction order for the infringing party to stop all prohibited uses of the photos
  • The impounding and disposition of infringing photos
  • Actual damages and profits from the infringement
  • Statutory damages that can vary depending on the severity and intent of the infringement
  • Compensation for reasonable costs and attorney’s fees to pursue the infringement claim

Photographers have three years to file a copyright infringement claim under Section 507, which begins to run on the date of discovery of the most recent instance of infringement.

Meet With a Boca Raton Photography Copyright Infringement Attorney

Take appropriate measures to fully protect the value and benefit of your pictures by registering your copyrights and filing infringement claims when necessary. Our Boca Raton photography copyright infringement lawyers are here to help in all legal issues involving your creative expression. Schedule a free consultation with our aggressive intellectual property attorneys today.

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER