Protecting your content is really important these days. As there is so much content available on the internet, unauthorized use and plagiarism have become a common problem. In India, there are specific ways to protect your online content and safeguard your intellectual property.
Copyright your content
Copyright is a legal right given to the author of an original work to control the use and distribution of his work. In India, it is governed by the Copyright Act 1957. Copyright applies to all types of works like literary, musical, artistic, cinematographic etc.
Automatic Copyright
In India, copyright is automatic. So as soon as you publish your content online, it is protected under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957.
Register Your Copyright
While copyright is automatic, it is always advised to register your work with the copyright office to get additional legal benefits. Registered copyright can be primary evidence in the court. This will make it easier to enforce your rights. To register your work you need to:
- Fill out the application form provided by the Copyright Office.
- Pay the fees for registration.
- Submit the copies of the work you want to register.
Watermarks
Digital watermarks are a good way to protect visual and multimedia content. Adding a watermark allows you to recognise unauthorized use of your content and will make it easy to identify your work.
Watermark Benefits:
- Discourage others: Watermarks will discourage others from using your content without permission.
- Helps in identification: Watermarks will help in identifying your work. It will act as a proof of ownership.
- Improves Branding: Watermarks can also be a branding tool, increasing your brand’s visibility.
Other Ways to Protect Your Content
- Check the internet regularly for unauthorized use of your content.
- Register your trademark for your brand to protect your brand name, logo and other identifiers.
- Put clear terms of use on your website or platform. Also, specify how your content can be used.
- Put a copyright notice on your content, like © [Your Name/Company] [Year].
- Use technological measures like DRM, password protection and encryption.
These steps will help you to protect your content and also prevent others from using it without your permission.
