10 Intellectual Property Tips Entrepreneurs Can’t Afford to Ignore
2Copyright Notice: Protecting Written Materials
5. Don’t forget the copyright notice.
Written copyright notices have been legally optional under U.S law since 1989, but why not avoid misunderstandings? Make sure that every manual, guide, major document and publicity material put out by your startup has the copyright symbol or the word “Copyright” pegged to it along with the year of creation and first publication.
6. Keep ownership rights completely clear.
Chances are that a bunch of different people who are either partners in your startup or working as hired help will probably be producing a lot of your content and other written materials. To prevent the problem of them later claiming ownership under their own name, set up a written control contract that everyone who produces content for you needs to sign, giving your company full rights.
7. Register your copyright for maximum legal protection.
A simple written notice works for most cases, but if you really value your written work, website or other text-based IP, you should visit the U.S Copyright office, pay their processing fee and send off an application for fully registered copyright registration.
