How do I copyright my website to protect it?

Visit the Copyright Registration Portal

In the US, a creator doesn't normally need to take any formal step to ensure the copyright of their work. As soon as a work - in this case, a website - is created or displayed in the public domain by the person or organization responsible for it, it is assumed that this person or entity holds the rights to it, and ownership is automatic.

However, if you wish to undertake a formal process to support your claim and are especially looking for some form of documentation to relay your ownership of the website and its content, you can always head to the Copyright Registration Portal and register your work to claim copyright.

Keep Records of Your Copyright

If you don't have the budget to register your website in the US Copyright Office, you should keep records of when and how your website was created, including any drafts, revisions, and final versions. These records can serve as evidence if you need to defend your website's copyright in court. Moreover, you should fix the content in a tangible form, such as a website file, to make it eligible for copyright protection.

Copyright Protection is Automatic

Luckily, you don't have to do anything to copyright your website. You get copyright protection automatically for any original work as soon as it is put into "fixed" form. The second you hit publish on a website, to your blog posts, or any updates after launch, you get copyright protection.

There are a couple of things you can do to enhance your protection. First, although you don't need to include a copyright notice, the best practice is to include a simple copyright notice in the footer.

Something like "Copyright 2017-2023 [YOUR COMPANY NAME]." The date range should correspond to the earliest date you published and the most recent date you added to your site.

Second, you can register the copyright for your website by filing with the United States Copyright Office. This is something that very few businesses really need to do. A registration comes into play if you intend to enforce your copyright in court.

Prepare and Gather All the Items You Want to Copyright

You always want to safeguard your website as a whole. However, you'll also need to register specific blog articles, photos, and other data if you want complete security. A copyright for your site could not completely protect content because the Copyright Office views these as independent entities.

Fortunately, collections of content can be registered, saving you from having to submit an application for each individual article and image on your website, which would be time-consuming. Even so, you might want to browse your website and prepare a thorough inventory of the information you want to register.

You'll also need to print hard copies of every item of content you want to copyright before you fill out any forms. The hard copy of your work should be the "best edition," in accordance with the rules. Make sure the copies of your site's pages are of good quality and depict how your site appears when printed.

This will make it more likely that your application will be accepted.

Include Digital Watermarks On Images

One of the most important steps business owners should take to copyright their website is to include appropriate digital watermarks to help protect images or logos from being reused without permission.

A digital watermark includes code embedded within an image file used as a signal for copyright protection. It creates a kind of label that attaches itself to the digital file - like a tiny piece of invisible text that identifies who owns it.

Images on websites are often stolen and used without permission, so adding this label helps trace back any use of them unapproved by the author/business owner so they can be contacted about potential legal action if desired.

Search for Existing Trademarks

One of the first steps to copyrighting your website is to search for existing trademarks. You can do this by searching for competitor brands online, or even searching for your specific brand name through the USPTO website.

If your brand name is already trademarked, you'll need to make a slight change before going forward with copyrighting. If you notice that your brand name is not trademarked, you can proceed with copyrighting your website.

However, even if you don't plan on using your brand name in any way, it's still important to register your website as an asset in case you ever want to sell it in the future. You can register your website through the USPTO website.

Register With the United States Copyright Office

One step a business owner should take to copyright their website is to register the website with the United States Copyright Office. This can be done by submitting a registration application along with the required fee and providing a copy of the website's content.

The registration process can take several months to complete, but it provides the business owner with legal protection for the content of their website. Once the website is registered, the business owner can take legal action against anyone who uses their content without permission. Additionally, registering the website with the Copyright Office also creates a public record of the website's ownership and can be used as evidence in court.

Overall, registering the website with the Copyright Office is a crucial step for any business owner looking to protect their website's content.

Fill Out the Copyright Registration Application

Filling out the copyright registration application is the first step. The copyright registration application can be submitted online or by mail. To register by mail, locate the appropriate form, fill it out either manually or on a computer, and then print it out to mail together with your hard copies and a $85.00 filing fee.

A lower filing price of $35-$55, quicker processing timeframes, and the option to follow the progress of your application are all advantages of registering online. You'll need to register for an account with the Electronic Copyright Office in order to access the online application. Next, choose the appropriate form for your content and enter all the necessary data. You should monitor the status of your application after you've submitted it.

Applications for copyright are generally processed in seven months. In the meantime, make sure your website has a copyright symbol and that you are regularly monitoring for online versions of your content that have been stolen.