Doing away with copyright

[Dave-W]

If the actual creator has not registered his copyright, a US court will not hear his case.

How does the court know the person who registered the copyright is NOT the actual author if they do not hear the case?

 

[Greg J.]

I believe that the registration of the copyright is an assertion that the registrar is the owner. A court case can be heard to contest that, but if the copyright has not been registered by anyone, what precisely is being contested is another layer of legal examination that is not directly related to who the rightful copyright holder is.

 

[RDKirk]

How does the court know the person who registered the copyright is NOT the actual author if they do not hear the case?

Because all they intend to hear is a contest of a registered copyright, and the person with the registered copyright is the person they consider having standing to bring suit. They don't intend to hear thousands of cases forever against Paul McCartney from people who claim out of nowhere to have written "Hey, Jude" first.

The learning point is: Register your copyright before you publish the work.

 

[Dave-W]

They don't intend to hear thousands of cases forever against Paul McCartney from people who claim out of nowhere to have written "Hey, Jude" first.

LOL!!!

I saw a movie once where a guy went back in time (to fix the JFK assassination I think) and he told a young girl (who would later be his mother) to immediately copyright the following lyrics:

Hey Jude
Inna Gadda Vida
Get Back
Jumping Jack Flash
Sugar Sugar