Pennsylvania Copyrights Legal Questions

Do you already have an existing work that you are seeking to publish? Or is this a concept that you are seeking to hire illustrators or animators for?   If you already have an existing work, please be aware that you have copyright protection in that work the instant it is created. This means that you have actually written, drawn, animated, recorded, etc. the story; it is not enough to have merely thought about the "idea" or "concept" of your story. It is not necessary to register the work immediately, but there are significant advantages to doing so, and the government fee is only $65.   If your work is not complete yet, then no copyright protection exists until you actually create a tangible work product such as a text or a video. There is no "registration" you can obtain for mere concepts or ideas.   If you are seeking a professional such as a writer, illustrator, or animator to make something for you, then it is critical to understand how authorship/ownership rights are established. In short, if you want to be considered the sole author and owner of the work, then it is necessary for you to have a written agreement with the professional that explicitly states that the work will be considered a "work for hire" and that the professional will not obtain any rights. If you fail to do that, the professional will be considered the author of the work and will have the initial copyright ownership in the work, and this can create major complications for you down the road.   It may be helpful to have the professional sign a nondisclosure agreement that would forbid them from using the information you discuss with them (such as your characters and story) to create a competing story. However, not all professionals will be willing to sign such agreements.... Read More