Copyrights are a broad bundle of rights which belong to the creator of the expression of ideas. Copyright does not extend to ideas, processes, etc., but apply to the expression of these ideas. For example, there is no copyright in the idea of romance between members of feuding families, but there is copyright in the songs and music of West Side Story. Copyright protects such things as written material, software, photographs, sculpture, and architectural designs. With few exceptions, copyright protection extends to the expression of the idea only; a picture of a bicycle is copyrighted but it provides no protection to the bicycle itself (which may be protected by patent).

Copyright protection for the author begins when the expression is fixed in tangible media, for example, printed or saved in a computer. As a practical matter, protection of copyrights is possible for most authors only if the copyright is registered at the Copyright Office before the copyrighted material is infringed. Such prior registration provides important rights to the author.

Mr. Ramsey represents clients seeking copyright registration at the Copyright Office.

Copyright law inherently involves complex and subtle questions of distinguishing between copyrightable and non-copyrightable material. Mr. Ramsey provides consultation and advice which aids clients in making business decisions on the use of other’s creations and the enforcement of the client’s rights, and, if necessary, representation of the client in litigation.

An article on copyright is as follows: