Copyrighting

wannabedamned · 28 Apr 2009 at 12:55

I'm in the process of designing a website, the website is going to have several unique avatars designed for the site, to represent certain sections that you are viewing. They are high quality designs, created by a friend who is a very talented artist. I would like them to be unique to my site, and possibly if the site ever makes it big, I'd like for you to see the characters and maybe think of my site.

So I need to make sure, The avatars remain property of the site.

I do understand there's no real way to stop them being used. But I'd just feel peace of mind, If i had some sort of iron clad ownership of the images.

Can anyone help?

SourChipmunk · 28 Apr 2009 at 14:51

There are watermarking tools that can be purchased (the best of being Digimarc.) There may be some free ones as well.

Also, be sure you put a Terms & Conditions item on your site, stating that the images found on your site are the property of you, etc. etc. You can find these all over the internet, and just modify it to fit your needs.

reflux · 28 Apr 2009 at 14:52

There are physical ways of proving the design is yours - for example, take a photo of one with the day's newspaper, or mail a copy to yourself in the post.

philjohn · 28 Apr 2009 at 14:53

If you want them to be associated with your site you'd really want to trademark them. This costs a lot of money and you must actively defend your mark or you lose it.

Best thing would be not to worry, everything is copyrighted automatically - just send takedown notices to the hoster of anyone ripping them off.