Sword of Solaris - My avatar on deviantART

[avidteen13]

I checked online.  You do get a copyright automatically, but you have to have registered the work with the Copyright Office if you want to file suit if someone takes your work.  And you get a neat little certificate too.

[Zac33333]

@Krzysiek are you sure?

100% sure. You get copyrights immediately you create your work (unless you did this while working for someone, in which case they get the copyright and unless you live in some strange country, which law states otherwise). You created a work, it's your right to decide what to do with it (still, keeping in mind other people copyrights, in case of work based on or using  existing work).

Wrong. You must purchase an official copywrite in order to gain what is known as Proof of Copywrite. The purchase could be $0 - $100, depending on what your copywriting. Without this, its not official copywrite. I.E. - You can't file a lawsuit in a court of law, and cannot fully protect your rights on that artwork. Read the federal laws of copywrite.

[ddevans96]

@Krzysiek are you sure?

100% sure. You get copyrights immediately you create your work (unless you did this while working for someone, in which case they get the copyright and unless you live in some strange country, which law states otherwise). You created a work, it's your right to decide what to do with it (still, keeping in mind other people copyrights, in case of work based on or using  existing work).

Wrong. You must purchase an official copywrite in order to gain what is known as Proof of Copywrite. The purchase could be $0 - $100, depending on what your copywriting. Without this, its not official copywrite. I.E. - You can't file a lawsuit in a court of law, and cannot fully protect your rights on that artwork. Read the federal laws of copywrite.

Actually, he's right. Try looking here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright It's an automatic right, so you don't have to apply for it or anything.

[miniwally]

Wikipedia isn't a reliable source considering whoever they like writes it, I could go on it right now and put you have to be the King of Siberia to get copyright.

[Zac33333]

I agree.

Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created
in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship
immediately becomes the property of the author who created
the work. Only the author or those deriving their rights
through the author can rightfully claim copyright.

Thats an exact article from the government website. It clearly states the creator is the only one who can CLAIM copyright, thus, would have to claim it at a local copyright office. 'Nuff said.

http://www.copyright.gov/

[ddevans96]

Wikipedia isn't a reliable source considering whoever they like writes it, I could go on it right now and put you have to be the King of Siberia to get copyright.

I hate when people say Wikipedia isn't reliable. That's honestly not true. Most people will only edit an article if they know something is true.

That aside, it is gotten automatically by the person who first makes the work. However, you can't sue for it unless you register the copyright. So in a way, everyone is right XD

At least, I think that's it. I'm probably still wrong XD

[avidteen13]

That aside, it is gotten automatically by the person who first makes the work. However, you can't sue for it unless you register the copyright. So in a way, everyone is right XD

I checked online.  You do get a copyright automatically, but you have to have registered the work with the Copyright Office if you want to file suit if someone takes your work.  And you get a neat little certificate too.

um... well said, ddevans96.

I agree with you on Wikipedia.  If someone makes an article blatantly untrue, the moderators will fix it.  Other users can also fix untrue information.

[Xoned]

DeviantArt's Copyright Policy. (http://about.deviantart.com/policy/copyright/)

Let's not get into copyright laws before we look at DeviantArts Policy.
If someone wants to use his art, they're gonna use it. Simple as that. You can sue them, delete it, even fry their hardrive but if they're determined enough they'll find a way to use it.
IE make the background transparent and put it on a sheild.

Though I'm sure no-one on this forum will sink as low as to go against a respected members wishes.

[Krzysiek K.]

Wrong. You must purchase an official copywrite in order to gain what is known as Proof of Copywrite. The purchase could be $0 - $100, depending on what your copywriting. Without this, its not official copywrite. I.E. - You can't file a lawsuit in a court of law, and cannot fully protect your rights on that artwork. Read the federal laws of copywrite.

Well, not everybody lives in United States for that matter, so I was basing my knowledge on Polish law, where you get copyright automatically and all you need to defend your cause is to be able to somehow prove that you are the original author (e.g. sketches or any form of intermediate/source form should work). I assumed, that in US you get at least as much rights as here.

[Zac33333]

Wrong. You must purchase an official copywrite in order to gain what is known as Proof of Copywrite. The purchase could be $0 - $100, depending on what your copywriting. Without this, its not official copywrite. I.E. - You can't file a lawsuit in a court of law, and cannot fully protect your rights on that artwork. Read the federal laws of copywrite.

Well, not everybody lives in United States for that matter, so I was basing my knowledge on Polish law, where you get copyright automatically and all you need to defend your cause is to be able to somehow prove that you are the original author (e.g. sketches or any form of intermediate/source form should work). I assumed, that in US you get at least as much rights as here.

Nahh. Here in U.S., we have to buy our rights. :3