Copyright basics. What it protects and how it works.
Copyright is one of the four pillars of intellectual property: it protects original works of authorship. Software code, written content, music, photography, video, illustrations, design - all are eligible. Unlike trademarks (which require registration) and patents (which require examination), copyright protection is automatic the moment a work is fixed in a tangible medium. Registration with the US Copyright Office is optional but strengthens enforcement rights significantly.
Start here.
Copyright exists the moment an original work is fixed in tangible form. No registration required for basic protection.
Registered copyrights can sue for statutory damages ($750-$150,000 per work) and attorney fees. Unregistered copyrights cannot.
Life of author + 70 years. Works made for hire: 95 years from publication or 120 from creation, whichever is shorter.
Ideas, facts, methods, systems, common phrases, titles, names. Copyright protects expression, not the underlying idea.
Limited uses for commentary, criticism, education, parody, and news reporting may be allowed without permission.
The full picture.
What copyright protects
Original works of authorship fixed in tangible medium: literary works (writing, software code), musical works (compositions and recordings), dramatic works (plays, screenplays), pantomimes and choreographic works, pictorial/graphic/sculptural works (photography, design, illustration), motion pictures and audiovisual works, sound recordings, architectural works.
What copyright does NOT protect
Ideas, facts, methods, processes, systems, principles, discoveries. Names, titles, short phrases, slogans (use trademark for these). Works of the US government (public domain). Common information conveyed without original expression.
Automatic vs registered
Copyright exists from creation. Registration is optional but opens up: statutory damages ($750-$150,000 per work for non-willful, up to $300,000 for willful), attorney fees in litigation, presumption of validity, ability to record with US Customs to block infringing imports.
How to register
File electronically at copyright.gov. Cost: $45 (single author, single work) to $125 (group registrations). Provide a deposit copy of the work. Typical processing: 3-9 months.
Duration
Life of the author + 70 years for individual-author works. For works made for hire (employee work product, certain commissioned works): 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first. Older works may have different rules.
Fair use
Section 107 exception. Four factors weighed: (1) purpose and character (commercial vs nonprofit; transformative vs verbatim); (2) nature of the work; (3) amount used; (4) market effect. Fair use is fact-specific and contested.
Work for hire
Works created by employees within scope of employment are owned by the employer. Works by independent contractors are owned by the contractor unless: (a) covered by a written work-for-hire agreement, AND (b) fall into one of nine statutory categories.
International protection
US copyright is recognized in 180+ countries under the Berne Convention. Most foreign works receive automatic US protection without registration.
Infringement
Use without permission of any of the exclusive rights (reproduction, distribution, derivative works, public display, public performance). Remedies: injunction, damages, attorney fees, criminal penalties in some cases.
Common questions.
Do I need to register for protection?
How long does it last?
What if I created code as an employee?
What if I created code as a contractor?
What is fair use?
Can I copyright a name or title?
Can I copyright a recipe?
Cost of registration?
Where do I register?
IP setup, done right.
Trademark filing, copyright registration, attorney-vetted IP assignment, and connection to specialty IP attorneys for patents.
This guide is educational. Specific IP decisions require professional legal advice.
How we deliver, end-to-end.
Four-step path from request to confirmation. State and IRS turnaround varies; our steps run in parallel where possible to compress the timeline.
Intake + scope
You tell us what you need through a short intake form (or a call for complex matters). We confirm scope, surface any gating issues (deadlines, missing documents, entity status), and quote any state fees that pass through at cost.
Prepare + verify
Our specialists draft the filing, verify entity details against state databases, run internal QA, and route any items needing your sign-off. You see drafts before anything gets submitted.
File with the authority
We submit directly to the state Secretary of State, FinCEN, IRS, USPTO, or whichever authority your filing requires. We pay state fees at cost and track the submission identifier in your account.
Confirmation + vault
Stamped certificate, IRS notice, or filing receipt arrives in your SOC 2 encrypted document vault the moment we receive it. Next filing deadline auto-added to your compliance calendar where applicable.
Built on the same infrastructure used by 220,000+ businesses.
SOC 2 Type II audited
Independent annual security audit covering access control, change management, incident response, and data handling. Current report on request.
All 51 US jurisdictions
Every state plus DC plus Puerto Rico - direct filings, not third-party reseller. We hold registered-agent qualifications in every state we operate.
Deadline guarantee
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. Specific to each plan and the filings it includes.
4.9 from 8,200+ verified reviews
Independently verified by Trustpilot + Google + our own NPS infrastructure. Customer success team within reach by email, chat, or phone.
60-day money-back promise
Change your mind in the first 60 days and we refund our service fee in full. State filing fees pass through at cost and are non-refundable once paid to the state.
E&O insured
Errors and omissions coverage protects you from service errors. Carrier and certificate available on request for enterprise clients.
Recommended add-ons
Most customers add these to keep their business compliant year-round.
Trademark Monitoring
RecommendedWe watch for infringing applications and notify you within 24 hours.
Office Action Response
If the USPTO refuses, we draft a professional response.
Trademark Renewal Tracking
USPTO renewals every 5 and 10 years - we never let one lapse.
Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.
Trust you can verify
SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.
A compliance partner, not a transaction
Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.
Premium experience competitors cannot match
Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.