QUICK SYNOPSIS➤ About Me

➤ Basics of Copyright

➤ Basics of Trademark

➤ How to Not Get Sued (Hopefully)

➤ How to Protect Your Work

➤ Q&A (And King Cake)

ABOUT JONATHAN BAILEY➤ Haunt Background

➤ Haunt: Bernie Baxter’s Traveling Sideshow (BernieBaxter.com)

➤ Podcast: Haunt Weekly(HauntWeekly.com)

➤ Video: Garbage Horror (GarbageHorror.com)

➤ Copyright and Plagiarism Background

➤ Blog: Plagiarism Today(PlagiarismToday.com)

➤ Consulting Firm: CopyByte(CopyByte.com)

FIELD OF SCREAMS LAWSUITBuild it and They Will Sue

BASICS OF COPYRIGHTDon’t Copy that Floppy…

“Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of ‘original works of authorship,’ including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works.

-U.S. Copyright Office

WHAT DOES COPYRIGHT PROTECT?➤ Creative Works “Fixed” into a “Tangible

Medium of Expression”

➤ Literary Works

➤ Musical Works

➤ Dramatic Works

➤ Choreography

➤ Pictorial/Graphical Works

➤ Motion Pictures

➤ Sound Recordings

➤ Architecture

➤ Federal Protection Only

➤ Transfers to Creator or Employer

WHAT DOES COPYRIGHT NOT PROTECT?

➤ Names (Trademarks)

➤ Ideas (Patents)

➤ Procedures and Systems (Patents)

➤ U.S. Federal Works

➤ Fashion Designs

➤ Works Without Requisite Level of Creativity (Phone Books)

REPRODUCE A WORKMakin’ Da Copies

PREPARE DERIVATIVE WORKSShmarry Scotter and the Wizard’s Stone

DISTRIBUTE A WORKPassing it out…

PUBLIC DISPLAY OR PERFORMANCESinging in the Shower Doesn’t Count

LIMITATIONS OF COPYRIGHT➤ Fair Use

➤ The Purpose and Character of the Use

➤ The Nature of the Copyrighted Work

➤ The Amount/Substantiality of Portion Taken

➤ The Effect of the Use Upon the Potential Market

➤ Expiration

➤ Life Plus 70 Years (Individuals)

➤ 95 Years (Corporations)

BASICS OF TRADEMARKPutting the TM in OuTModed

“A trademark is any word, name, symbol or device (or any combination thereof) that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.

- International Trademark Association

WHAT DOES A TRADEMARK PROTECT?

➤ Trademarks vs. Service marks

➤ Letters and Words

➤ Logos

➤ Pictures

➤ Slogans

➤ Colors

➤ Product Shapes

➤ Sounds

➤ Federal & State Protection

TRADEMARK DISTINCTIVENESS➤ More Distinctive Means More Protection

➤ Generic Marks (No Protection)

➤ Aspirin, Thermos

➤ Descriptive Marks

➤ Quick-Print, Computer Land

➤ Suggestive Marks

➤ Playstation, Roach Motel

➤ Arbitrary Marks

➤ Apple Computers

➤ Fanciful Marks (Max Protection)

➤ Kodak, Exxon

CONFUSION IN THE MARKETPLACEWith Panic! at the Disco

EIGHT ELEMENTS OF LIKELY CONFUSION

1. Strength of the Mark

2. Proximity of Goods

3. Similarity of Marks

4. Evidence of Actual Confusion

5. Marketing Channels Used

6. Type of Goods and Degree of Care Exercised by Purchaser

7. Defendant’s Intent in Selecting the Mark

8. Likelihood of Expansion of Product Lines

7 AREAS OF CONCERN FOR HAUNTERSWhat SHOULD Keep You Up at Night

1: MOVIE CHARACTERS & SCENESJason, Freddie and More!

2: HAUNT NAME/LOGOBe an Original…

3: MUSICASCAP, BMI and SESAC

4: YOUR WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIAText, Images, Audio and Video

5: MERCHANDISINGSpaceballs… the Flamethrower!

6: MARKETINGTV, Radio, Print & More

7: YOUR ACTORSThey Represent You Too…

PROTECTING YOUR WORKKeeping What You Create Safe

1. REGISTER YOUR TRADEMARKAnd Maintain it…

2. REGISTER YOUR COPYRIGHTSAnd Don’t Maintain It…

MONITOR YOUR CONTENT➤ Set up Google Alerts

(google.com/alerts)

➤ Haunt Name (Plus Town if Needed)

➤ Unique Phrases from Your Content

➤ Any Relevant Titles

➤ Google Image Search(images.google.com)

➤ Upload Any Images to Check

➤ Respond Appropriately to Infringements

QUESTIONS? (AND MAYBE ANSWERS)