You'll often see a copyright "notice" - the familiar or the word "copyright" with a date and name of the copyright owner - posted on works of authorship. This copyright notice is no longer required for copyright protection, but it may be a good idea to use it.

Copyright is a legal form of protection granted by the U.S. Constitution for original works of authorship. Things such as books, plays, music, photographs and even websites are protected by copyright law.

If you use the copyright notice, it may stop someone from stealing your work, either because it reminds them that the work is protected or because the notice interferes with their use of the work. Also, it helps to post a copyright notice on your work because the infringer then can't say the use was innocent. You can even use the copyright notice without registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, but there are many other reasons why you should register your work.

If you have a website to show your photographs, it likewise is helpful to post a copyright notice on your website's pages. Again, there are no specific requirements for the notice or no certain language is needed for copyright protection for your photos on your website or even the website itself. One caveat - the words "All Rights Reserved" are needed for protection in places like South America, but it's hard to prosecute your images there anyway.

It's odd that a company (whose owners are not lawyers) would "license" copyright language for others to use on their websites for $9.95, when nothing is required for protection. Put what you want on your website. Put only the basic notice like this: Copyright 2005 Carolyn E. Wright All Rights Reserved. Or, be more aggressive and use the language I use on my photography websites:

- All photographs appearing on this site are the property of Carolyn Wright Photography. They are protected by U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Carolyn Wright Photography. Copyright 2005 Carolyn E. Wright All Rights Reserved.

Feel free to copy and use that statement at no charge from me. Instead, take the $9.95 that you would have spent on licensing copyright language and put it towards registering your website and photographs. You'll be better off in the long run.

Take my advice; get professional help.

PhotoAttorney

Copyright 2005 Carolyn E. Wright All Rights Reserved

Carolyn Wright

Carolyn Wright is a professional photographer with an active wildlife photography business. Shooting for 25 years, her award-winning images have been used in books and corporate marketing materials. Her wildlife photos will be included in the upcoming book, "Captivating Wildlife - Images from the Top Ten Emerging Wildlife Photographers" by Scott Bourne and David Middleton. She also is working with Scott Bourne on "Wolfscapes," a photo book documenting the beauty and strength of wolves. Carolyn shares her love for photography with her enthusiasm for the law. Trained as a top-flight attorney, Carolyn's legal practice is aimed squarely at the needs for photographers. She understands the special issues that confront both professional and amateur photographers, and she regularly speaks and writes on the subject. Her book, "88 Secrets to the Law for Photographers," also co-written with Scott Bourne, is scheduled for release in fall 2005. On the faculty of Olympic Mountain School of Photography, Carolyn’s passion is enhanced when teaching photography. She enjoys writing and speaking on the subject, as well, and is a regular columnist for PhotoFocus, an online magazine for serious photographers. Carolyn is particularly tuned to the special interests of women in photography. She appreciates women's unique approach to the subject, and adapts her instruction accordingly. Armed with more than 20 years of general business experience and a Masters of Business Administration degree, she understands what is needed to succeed in male-dominated fields. This knowledge, combined with her training and experience as a teacher at all levels from grade school to graduate school, provides the strong foundation she uses to help others with their photography. Carolyn can be contacted at 2107 N. Decatur Rd. #117, Decatur, GA 30033 or by phone at 678.592.8025.