Who this is for
You wrote software, produced content, designed graphics, photographed products, or paid a contractor to do any of those things. The two copyright problems that actually hurt small businesses are predictable: they never registered, so enforcement options are weak when someone copies them; or they never got ownership in writing, so the contractor owns the work they paid for. Both are inexpensive to fix early and expensive to fix late.
Copyright services
Registration
Single-work and group registrations for software, photos, written content, and marketing assets, with deposit strategy that protects trade secrets in code.
Ownership Agreements
Work-for-hire and assignment agreements for contractors, agencies, and contributors, so the business actually owns what it paid for.
Licensing
Inbound and outbound licenses for content and software, including terms for templates, APIs, training materials, and white-label deals.
Enforcement and DMCA
Takedown notices and counter-notices, platform complaints, cease-and-desist letters, and pragmatic settlement strategy.
Fair Use and Risk Reviews
Publication risk calls before you ship content that quotes, remixes, or comments on someone else's work.
AI-Assisted Works
Registrability judgment for works made with AI tools, correct disclosure of AI assistance, and filing tactics that preserve protection for the human-authored parts. Closely related to my AI governance practice.
What it costs
Government fees current as of July 8, 2026. Note: the Copyright Office has proposed a fee increase (the standard application would rise to $85 and the $45 single application would be eliminated); if a final rule takes effect, government fees change accordingly and are still billed at cost.
Common questions
Is my work not protected until I register it?
Your work is protected the moment you create and fix it. But for U.S. works you must register before filing an infringement lawsuit, and registering promptly can unlock statutory damages and attorney's fees that make enforcement economically realistic. Emailing yourself a copy is not a strategy.
Does my business own what a contractor made for us?
Often not, and this surprises people. Independent contractors generally own their work unless a written agreement says otherwise. If contractors built your website, logo, code, or content without an assignment, that is worth fixing now.
Can I register something I made with AI help?
Human-authored contributions remain protectable; purely AI-generated material is not. Registration is often still worthwhile with correct disclosure and a filing strategy focused on the human contribution. I handle these regularly.
Someone copied my content. What do I actually do?
Usually the ladder is: platform takedown (fast, cheap), demand letter, then escalation if the copying is commercially serious. Registration status shapes which rungs are available, which is why registering your core assets early matters.
Keep learning
The IP protection guide explains where copyright fits next to patents, trademarks, and trade secrets, and the FAQ page covers the basics in one place.