The digital world has brought with it an ocean of opportunities for creatives and digital influencers. However, with this explosion of content, it has become essential to understand and protect copyright. Here, we explore what copyright is and how it impacts the creative industry.
What are Copyrights?
Copyright refers to the legal rights of an author or creator to their work. This includes, but is not limited to, books, music, paintings, photographs and, of course, digital content. When someone creates something original, they automatically own copyright over that creation, without the need for registration. The lack of need for registration arises from a legal provision, even though the registration of works is a recommended course of action in certain cases in which proof of prior status against plagiarism may be crucial.
Why Copyright is Crucial for Influencers?
In the digital age, content is king. Influencers, bloggers, and creators rely on their original content to build a fan base, engage their audience, and often monetize their work. Protecting this content from unauthorized use ensures that the creator maintains control and potentially receives compensation for their work.
Furthermore, protecting this type of content creates the possibility of taking action against those who, unfortunately, do not have the same “creative effort” and prefer to appropriate other people’s content.
Copyright x Image Rights
For influencers, it's vital to understand the difference between copyright and image rights. While copyright protects creative expression, image rights protect an individual's image and reputation from unauthorized use.
These rights are often linked, since the content itself is disseminated through the image of its creator, making the protection of these rights joint and, evidently, fundamental.
How to Protect Your Rights?
- Know your rights: Being informed is the first step. Understand what local law says about copyright and how it applies to your work.
- Use Watermarks and Other Indicators: A watermark or discreet logo can help discourage unauthorized copying of your images or videos.
- Register your Brand. The Brand is the name by which you identify your content production. It can be your own name or the name of a blog, page or profile. Furthermore, the Brand is not necessarily text, which may be a sign, symbol or illustration that is used to identify its content.
- License your Content: There are different types of licenses available, from those that allow free use to those that require payment. Licensing is an important way to monetize your creations, allowing authorized use by third parties, if that is your wish.
- Monitor the Internet: Use tools and get into the habit of monitoring the use of your online content. If you detect unauthorized use, act quickly.
- Count on professional advice: Being well advised can be decisive in ensuring success and exclusivity of your content. Furthermore, specialized advice can help you better understand your rights and all the limits to be explored when creating content, with the certainty of not infringing on the rights of others and, consequently, avoiding having to respond to unwanted demands.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, copyright protection is more crucial than ever to ensure creatives receive credit and, where applicable, compensation for their work. Digital influencers, arm yourself with knowledge and be proactive in protecting your content!
Remember, when you create something, you are not only sharing your vision and voice with the world, but you also own rights to that creation. Protect them.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
