The short answer? No. Yes. Maybe. It depends. It’s complicated. Copyright law in the United States protects “original works of authorship.” Those who would flat-out say NO argue that AI-generated content is not an original work of authorship because it is created by a machine. Others argue that it is original because it originates from […]
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Getting sued ranks right up there in the top 10 of life’s most stressful circumstances. I might even put it in the top 3, right after death and divorce. A lawsuit can have a major impact on your business’s finances and reputation. The psychological and emotional impact can be immense. In fact, getting sued often […]
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As soon as you put your thoughts, words, and ideas in writing (a tangible form) for the world to see, it is considered an original work of authorship and is, therefore, subject to copyright protection. If it’s your original work, and you have put it in writing or have otherwise published or recorded it, copyright […]
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Is it time to update the copyright notice on your website? If you don’t update your copyright notice at the start of each year, you risk having your content stolen without a strong legal claim to get it back! A copyright notice establishes a legal claim to ownership of the work in question. The date […]
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Trademark law protects words (like company names, for example), slogans (like tag lines), logos and designs that identify a brand of goods and services. Copyright law protects original works fixed in a tangible format, including original works of authorship, such as books (fiction and non-fiction), poetry, movies, musical and artistic works, computer software, and architecture. […]
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This is another one of those questions I’m asked frequently: “Is it okay to use a trademarked name or brand name in my marketing copy?” Answer? It depends. But in the spirit of extreme caution, NO! One of our author’s over at BOOK to BUSINESS™ wanted to use the word “Bandaid” in the title of […]
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COVER YOUR ASSETS ONLINE? What are “assets,” exactly? And how does one actually “cover” them? We’re going to explore all the ways you can cover your assets online without having to hire a lawyer. When it comes your online business, your assets are all the things you rightfully and legally own. […]
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I don’t want to scare you. Really, I don’t. (Actually, come to think of it, maybe I do, if that’s what it takes to get your attention… this is muy importante.) * Because I don’t want to see you getting your (pajama) pants sued off. (Admit it, you work from home in your pajama pants.) * I want you […]
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WARNING: DO NOT PUT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND! Listen up: We’ve got some “asset covering” to do, or as I like to say,”It’s time to dive into the crazy sexy legal part of running an online business.” Ok, ok, so it’s not sexy. But the legal aspects of running an online business can make […]
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The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) grants 8 rights to individuals when it comes to protecting personal information. 1. The right to be informed People have the right to know how you’re using their personal information and why. At a bare minimum you should state the following in your privacy policy: The identity of […]
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