Know Your Rights! Copyrights That Is
As a cartoonist, or any other creative type, it's a vital thing knowing at least the basics of Copyrights. Both to protect your creations and keep from accidentally stepping on someone's toes.
We all know that copyrights protect your work, but how do you get a copyright?
That's a lot easier than you may think. All you have to do is put your idea into any fixed form. Such as drawing a character on paper or digitally. Writing your song, story or sheet music and/recording it. Writing down a recipe, video taping a new dance or film.
Basically as long as your idea exists physically rather than in your mind, it's protected. No registration required! At least not for the last several decades.
What kinds of things aren't covered by copyright?
General ideas and concepts are not protected by copyright. Neither are names, or words, and inventions. Those are covered by trademarks and patents.
Now as for general ideas that can't be copyright protected. A prime example for this article would be a super power like laser vision. You can't copyright laser vision because that's something another super powered character can have it's a general power.
However there is a small "catch". The way that laser vision, or other power, is illustrated or depicted CAN be protected by copyright. Why? Because that is a unique way that particular character's power is illustrated.
Granted there's only so many ways to depict some powers. So unless a character's power is presented in a wildly different and unique style, one probably wouldn't get too far crying "infringement" if they saw it depicted in a similar fashion.
Even though you aren't required to officially register a copyright. Every additional step you take adds to your protection. It's always good practice to include a copyright notice when presenting your work to the public.
If you share your work online through social networking sites or artist communities(which usually include a notice for you), always be sure to read their Terms of Service. Always know what you're agreeing to!
Copyright for your own work is pretty simple. However if you're serious about making cartoons, things can get a little bit more complicated.
We all know that copyrights protect your work, but how do you get a copyright?
That's a lot easier than you may think. All you have to do is put your idea into any fixed form. Such as drawing a character on paper or digitally. Writing your song, story or sheet music and/recording it. Writing down a recipe, video taping a new dance or film.
Basically as long as your idea exists physically rather than in your mind, it's protected. No registration required! At least not for the last several decades.
What kinds of things aren't covered by copyright?
General ideas and concepts are not protected by copyright. Neither are names, or words, and inventions. Those are covered by trademarks and patents.
Now as for general ideas that can't be copyright protected. A prime example for this article would be a super power like laser vision. You can't copyright laser vision because that's something another super powered character can have it's a general power.
However there is a small "catch". The way that laser vision, or other power, is illustrated or depicted CAN be protected by copyright. Why? Because that is a unique way that particular character's power is illustrated.
Granted there's only so many ways to depict some powers. So unless a character's power is presented in a wildly different and unique style, one probably wouldn't get too far crying "infringement" if they saw it depicted in a similar fashion.
Even though you aren't required to officially register a copyright. Every additional step you take adds to your protection. It's always good practice to include a copyright notice when presenting your work to the public.
If you share your work online through social networking sites or artist communities(which usually include a notice for you), always be sure to read their Terms of Service. Always know what you're agreeing to!
Copyright for your own work is pretty simple. However if you're serious about making cartoons, things can get a little bit more complicated.
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