How can I protect my intellectual property from theft on the internet?
February 12, 2022 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Isabel Tressel
Dear Media Law Attorney,
I am Claudia Busch and have been running a website for some time where I publish my own written texts and photos. Lately, I have noticed an increasing trend of some of my content being shared on other websites or social media platforms without my permission. This makes me feel restricted in my creative work and I want to better protect my intellectual property on the internet.
Currently, I am unsure of how to address the unauthorized use of my content. I am concerned that my intellectual property continues to be stolen and distributed without any recourse on my part. Therefore, I urgently need professional advice on how to protect my rights as an author and take legal action against the thieves.
My concern is that my work is not being properly recognized and that I may be losing potential income from my creative work. I want to effectively protect my intellectual property on the internet to uphold my rights as an author and to stop the unauthorized distribution of my content.
Therefore, my specific question to you is: How can I protect my intellectual property from theft on the internet? What legal options do I have to address the unauthorized use of my content? I am grateful for any advice and support to protect my creative works and defend my rights as an author.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Claudia Busch
Dear Mrs. Busch,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the protection of your intellectual property on the internet. It is understandable that you are concerned about your creative works being used and distributed without your permission. As a media law attorney, I can show you some legal options to address the theft of your content and protect your intellectual property.
First and foremost, it is important to emphasize that your self-written texts and photos are automatically protected by copyright as soon as you create them. Copyright grants you the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, make publicly available, and exploit your works. If others use your works without your permission, they are infringing your copyright.
To address the unauthorized use of your content, you can take various legal steps. First, you should request those who use your content without permission to immediately remove it. You can rely on your copyright and demand a cease and desist declaration. If the individuals continue to use your content, you may consider legal actions such as warnings or legal proceedings.
Furthermore, you can protect your creative works online through certain measures. For example, you can add a copyright notice to your website, clearly indicating that your content is protected by copyright. You can also watermark your photos to make their use more difficult. Additionally, you can use technical protection measures such as blocking right-clicks or embedding codes to restrict the dissemination of your content.
It is advisable to regularly search the internet for unlawfully used content and take legal actions as needed. As a media law attorney, I am happy to assist you and support you in effectively protecting your intellectual property. Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss further legal steps and defend your rights as a creator.
I hope that my explanations are helpful to you and encourage you to take action against the theft of your content. Thank you for your trust, and I am available at any time for further questions.
Best regards,
Isabel Tressel
Media Law Attorney
