That copyright registration I put off for 5 years actually saved me $3,000

Honestly I used to think registering your work with the Copyright Office was a waste of time and money. A client in Austin stole my photos for a hotel website last year and I could only threaten them with a take down notice. When they didn't budge I finally registered everything I had going back 5 years and hired a lawyer. Took 3 months but they settled for $3,000 which was way more than if I'd just had the registrations ready. Has anyone else found clients take you seriously once you have that registration number?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowanr886d ago

Idk, that seems like a lot of hassle for only three grand.

the_elizabeth3d ago

A buddy of mine had a similar thing happen with a local bakery that used his logo design without paying. He spent like six months sending emails and getting nowhere until he finally registered the design. The bakery settled for $2,800 within two weeks after that.

the_ben8d ago

Dude yes the "threaten with a take down notice" part hit way too close to home. I had a coffee shop chain in Portland use my branding mockups without paying me. Sent them a cease and desist and they basically laughed. Finally coughed up for a stack of registrations and it was night and day. Lawyers actually call back and clients stop playing dumb. The settlement number was almost identical to yours too. $3k is nothing to sneeze at for something I ignored for years.