Copyrights, Patents, & Trademarks for Selling at Craft Shows

Copyrights, are common concerns forproducts.The copyright protects the form of
craftspeople. If you'veexpression rather than the
invented a unique product, you will more thansubject matter of the writing. For example, a
likely want todescription of a
protect it from others who can createmachine could be copyrighted, but this would only
knock-offs of your craftprevent others
show gem at cheaper prices. Although it may befrom copying the description; it would not
flattering toprevent others from
have created a craft item others want towriting a description of their own or from making
duplicate, it can alsoand using the
be a nightmare to see your distinctive creationmachine. Copyrights are registered by the
on the HomeCopyright Office of
Shopping Network! The United States Patent andthe Library of Congress." ( people think of
Trademarkcopyrights for books or music and not
Organization Web site ( is a good place to learncreative arts like paintings or crafts, but a
the differences between trademarks and patentscopyright can
and to learn whatprotect all forms of creative expression and
is best for your situation. For more informationvisual arts. Visual
and to applyarts are defined as original pictorial, graphic and
for a copyright go to attorneys may be costly,sculptural
some offer free 30-minuteworks, which include two-dimensional and
consultations, so you may be able to find onethree-dimensional works
who can tell youof fine, graphic and applied art. Some examples
what's the best protection for your craft showare:Artificial flowers and plants Artwork applied to
product. If youclothing or to
find the costs are prohibitive for you to secure aother useful articles Collages Dolls, toys Drawings,
trademark,paintings,
patent or whatever you find you need, you'll justmurals Enamel works Greeting cards, postcards,
have to takestationery
your chances without one. Again, check withJewelry designs Mosaics Needlework and craft
other crafterskits Original
through shows and forums, as well as your craftprints, such as engravings, etchings, serigraphs,
organizations tosilk screen
find out what they've done to protect theirprints, woodblock prints Patterns for sewing,
crafts. Those whoknitting, crochet,
have come before you can ease your way soneedlework Reproductions, such as lithographs,
you don't have tocollotypes
reinvent the wheel.Your Copyright"A copyright isSculpture, such as carvings, ceramics, figurines,
a form of protection provided to the authors ofmolds, relief
'original works of authorship' including literary,sculptures Stained glass designs Stencils, cut-outs
dramatic,Weaving
musical, artistic, and certain other intellectualdesigns, lace designs, tapestriesA copyright gives
works, boththe creator of the product exclusive rights to
published and unpublished. The 1976 Copyrightproduce, sell and distribute the item. When your
Act generallywork is
gives the owner of copyright the exclusive rightcreated, it is automatically copyrighted, however,
to reproducefor optimum
the copyrighted work, to prepare derivativeprotection, it's best to apply for a copyright.
works, to distributeWhen obtained,
copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work,you can add the copyright symbol (c) on all your
to perform thematerials.Copyright your designs, so you have
copyrighted work publicly, or to display thelegal proof in case someone
copyrighted workcopies your work.
publicly. This includes your craft show