Copyright Law: Questions and Answers

Copyright law, like many types of law, raises numerous issues and questions for clients.  More often than not, these questions can be answered in one of two ways.  First, frequently asked questions such as those available in the United States Copyright Office’s Frequently Asked Questions page, can be answered without legal research and much effort.  On the other hand, practical matters usually require answering multiple legal issues that may arise which require a copyright attorney.  A qualified lawyer can properly identify copyright issues, perform copyright law research, and provide advice and recommendations based upon the copyright findings.

Copyright Protection Not Available for Names, Slogans, Titles, or Short Phrases

Names, titles, and short phrases or expressions are not subject to copyright protection.

Even if a name, title, or short phrase is novel or distinctive or if it lends itself to a play on words, it cannot be protected by copyright. The Copyright Office cannot register claims to exclusive rights in brief combinations of words such as: