Have you ever discovered your original content, artwork, logo, or design copied online without your permission—possibly by someone in another state or even another country? Maybe your photograph appears on a blog you’ve never heard of, your logo is being used by another business, or your written content shows up word-for-word on another website.
If this has happened to you, there’s good news: you are protected under federal copyright law, and there are clear legal steps you can take to stop the infringement.
At Lomnitzer Law, we help creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses protect their intellectual property and enforce their rights when online infringement occurs.
Copyright protection in the United States is governed by federal law, not state law. That means your work is protected nationwide the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible medium—such as being saved digitally, uploaded online, or published.
This automatic protection applies to a wide range of creative works, including:
You do not need to register your work for it to be protected under copyright law. However, registration becomes critical if legal enforcement is necessary.
Learn more about how copyright protection works by visiting our copyright law practice page.
While copyright protection is automatic, you must register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office before filing a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court.
Registration also unlocks additional legal remedies, including:
In most cases, copyright protection lasts for the life of the creator plus 70 years, providing long-term protection for creative assets.
If you discover that someone has copied your content without permission, you generally have two primary legal options under federal intellectual property law.
The fastest and most effective first step is often filing a DMCA takedown notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
A DMCA takedown allows you to request the removal of infringing content from websites, hosting providers, and online platforms.
Most major platforms—such as Google, YouTube, Shopify, and social media networks—have online DMCA forms that make this process straightforward.
Once a valid notice is received, the platform or website must remove the infringing content promptly or risk further legal consequences.
If your copyright is registered and the infringement continues—or if significant damages are involved—you may need to pursue a federal copyright infringement lawsuit.
These cases are filed in the U.S. District Court, not the Florida state court. Depending on the circumstances, the lawsuit may be filed in the district where the infringer lives or where the infringement occurred. Online infringement cases can be complex, which is why legal guidance is essential.
Potential remedies may include:
Because copyright enforcement falls under federal jurisdiction, it applies regardless of where the infringer is located.
You can explore how federal intellectual property enforcement works on our intellectual property law page.
No matter where you live—or where the infringer is located—copyright protection and enforcement are federal matters. If someone online is copying your content, logo, artwork, or creative work, you have nationwide protection under U.S. copyright law.
At Lomnitzer Law, we work with clients across the country to:
If your copyrighted work has been copied or misused online, we encourage you to reach out for a confidential consultation. Visit our contact page to learn how we can help protect and enforce your creative rights.
For more insights on intellectual property protection, trademark strategy, and copyright enforcement, explore our latest resources on the Lomnitzer Law blog.
