Intellectual Property
Trademarks, copyright, and content ownership.
5 guides
- Copyright basics for creators and businesses
Copyright usually protects original creative expression, such as writing, photographs, music, software, artwork, video, and designs, once it is recorded in some form. The creator commonly starts as the copyright owner, but contracts, employment rules, assignments, licenses, and local law can change who may use the work
- Protecting your business name and trademark
A business name and a trademark are related but different. Registering a company or business name may identify your business to the government, but it usually does not give you exclusive rights to use that name for particular goods or services.
- Someone stole your content or photos
When someone copies your writing, artwork, video, or photographs without permission, the issue may involve copyright infringement, breach of a platform’s rules, privacy, or misuse of your identity. The available response depends on what was copied, who owns the rights, where the person and platform are located, and whe
- Trademark basics under U.S. law
A trademark is a word, name, logo, or other sign that identifies the source of goods or services. In the United States, trademark rights come from using a mark in commerce, and federal registration under the Lanham Act adds important nationwide benefits.
- Using someone else's photos, music or video online
Using someone else’s photo, music, or video online can raise copyright, privacy, publicity, defamation, and platform-policy issues. The result often depends on who created the material, what permission was given, how you use it, and where you and the people shown are located.