Hiring a copyright lawyer? What you need to know

If you have written or documentedworks that you want protected, it isin your best interest to copyrightthose works. But, to do so, you willneed the assistance of a copyrightlawyer. Hiring a copyright attorneyis important and you want to makesure you hire the right one – andone that understands the type ofwork you’re doing.

Intellectual Property Lawyers versus Other LawyersIntellectual property is a specialty within the legal field. Some lawyersspecialize in trademarks, copyrights and intellectual property, while othersjust dabble in it. You want to hire an attorney that specializes in these areas.They will have extensive knowledge about copyrights – including how toapply for a copyright.

Paying for Your Copyright ServicesCopyright attorneys may charge a standard fee to register your copyright.But, if you need copyright litigation, you most likely will pay a retainer as wellas an hourly rate – based on the number of projected hours your case willtake. In some cases, your copyright lawyer may create a contingency fee,especially if you are pursuing a lawsuit. In those types of cases, the lawyerwould then be paid a percentage of your settlement once you win your case.

How to Pick the Right Attorney for the JobThere are many copyright attorneys out there, but you can quicklydistinguish which are better for you and your needs. A few things you willwant to look for include:

Availability – How available is the attorney to their copyright clients?While you won’t need endless meetings to file your copyrights, you stillwant an attorney that is there to discuss your needs, answer questions,and call you back.

Fees – Review the fees with the copyright attorney. See how much youwill have to pay upfront and how much they are charging for theirservices – in addition to the copyright filing fees.

Experience – Use a reputable copyright lawyer that has a departmentfocused on copyrights and trade secrets. Never work with an attorneythat only does a handful of copyright cases each year, because theymay not be up to date on the latest copyright requirements or laws.