Why You Should Send a Cease-and-Desist Letter if Someone Stole Your Copyright
If you’re an artist, a writer, a songwriter, or a musician, you may already be familiar with obtaining copyright protection for your work.
In fact, as soon as your work is recorded in a tangible form, it’s automatically copyrighted in the U.S. If you want to ensure that your work is protected to the fullest extent of the law, then it’s essential to register your work with the U.S. copyright office.
Obtaining a Registered Copyright
Registering a copyright is a relatively quick and inexpensive process. Many creators submit their work via the copyright office’s website without requiring the assistance of an attorney.
After a few months, the creator receives notification that their copyright has been officially registered. If someone then makes unauthorized use of your work, you have a range of legal options that you can pursue.
Someone Stole Your Copyright
What if you discover that someone stole your copyright? This is an extremely common situation in the modern era. That’s mostly attributable to the Internet, which enables people to share images, text, and other potentially copyrighted material with incredible ease.
Should filing a lawsuit against the thief be your first step? In most cases, that’s not advisable. Common sense suggests going with a less confrontational option, namely, sending a cease-and-desist letter.
What Is a Cease-and-Desist Letter?
This letter is short and to the point. It informs the infringer of the copyrights of the owner and points out that the use by the recipient is unlicensed and unauthorized. The letter also demands that the infringer take immediate action to cease the infringement.
The cease-and-desist letter that’s sent when someone stole your copyright gives the infringer a deadline by which they are expected to comply. It may conclude by mentioning that further legal remedies may be considered if the infringer doesn’t stop using the work.
Ask a Lawyer to Send a Cease-and-Desist Letter
Should you send a cease-and-desist letter yourself? Most recipients of a personal letter are likely to ignore it. However, no one ignores a letter received from a law firm.
Getting an attorney involved when someone stole your copyright demonstrates how serious you are about protecting your rights. The alleged infringer usually responds quickly because they are anxious to avoid legal trouble.
If you need an attorney to send a cease-and-desist letter, contact Rincker Law today at 217-531-2179.