PROS
- Automatic Copyright Protection
Once a company or anyone for that matter establishes copyright for their work it applies right away to whatever they publish going forward.
- Defends Intellectual Property Rights
Copyright laws were established to protect those in the creative fields. The legislation informs those within the creative fields how to deal with breach of copyright in a civil setting.
- Immediate Action
If one’s company owns a copyright on any specific kind of work that’s registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, they can request a court injunction that commands the infringing party to cease and desist right away regarding publication or performance of the work in question.
CONS
- Registration and Fees
Although those who work within the creative fields passively receive basic protections for their work, they must register the work with the U.S. Copyright Office to be able to receive an injunction to halt an infringing action or seek damages for any infringement.
- Expensive for Owners to Enforce
Those who receive basic copyright protection must identify infringements on their own. If they find any infringement they must find and pay for their own legal representation.
- Ambiguity
Although people may have established copyright protection for their work, they many run into a situation where some areas are ambiguous and open to interpretation. Some companies or individuals may spend a lot of time and money only to find out that the court didn’t rule in their favor.
References:
Schnotz, Wilhelm. “Pros & Cons of Copyright Laws.” Business & Entrepreneurship – Azcentral.com. N.p., n.d. Web.