Our Lansing copyright lawyers are experts in copyright registration, copyright protection, and copyright infringement litigation. We have represented Lansing authors, musicians, artists, and businesses in copyright matters on numerous occasions and can help you navigate the complex world of copyright law.
Copyright is a federal right that protects original works of authorship from the moment they are fixed in a tangible form. Under 17 U.S.C. § 102, copyright covers literary works, musical compositions and sound recordings, pictorial and graphic works, motion pictures, software code, architectural works, and other creative expression. For Lansing creators — whether you are an author, a graphic designer, a software developer, a photographer, or a business producing marketing content — copyright is the legal framework that prevents others from copying what you have built.
Registration with the U.S. Copyright Office, while not required for copyright to exist, is essential for full enforcement. Under 17 U.S.C. § 411, registration is a prerequisite to filing a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court for U.S. works. Under 17 U.S.C. § 412, only copyright owners who registered before infringement occurred — or within three months of first publication — can recover statutory damages and attorney’s fees. Without timely registration, you are limited to actual damages, which require proof that is often difficult to establish.
Revision Legal’s Lansing copyright lawyers handle the full scope of copyright matters:
If someone is reproducing, distributing, or creating derivative works from your copyrighted material without authorization, you have several legal tools available. A DMCA takedown notice can rapidly remove infringing content from platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Amazon. A cease-and-desist letter can sometimes resolve infringement without litigation. For serious or ongoing infringement, a federal lawsuit seeking injunctive relief, statutory damages up to $150,000 per willfully infringed work, and attorney’s fees may be the appropriate response.
If you have received a cease-and-desist letter or been served with a copyright infringement complaint, act immediately. Copyright infringement can carry significant financial exposure, particularly if the plaintiff’s work was registered before the infringement began. Our attorneys assess the validity of infringement claims, evaluate available defenses — including fair use, independent creation, license, and statute of limitations — and develop a defense strategy to minimize exposure and resolve the matter efficiently.
If you seek a Lansing copyright attorney, contact Revision Legal today at 855-473-8474 or through our online contact form.
Revision Legal is a national internet and intellectual property law firm with deep roots in Michigan. Founded in Traverse City, the firm has grown to serve clients across the United States — from individual entrepreneurs and independent creators to mid-size companies and publicly traded corporations. We focus exclusively on intellectual property, internet law, and technology law, which means our attorneys develop deep expertise in these areas rather than spreading themselves thin across unrelated practice areas.
Our attorneys have litigated trademark, copyright, trade secret, and internet law matters in federal district courts and courts of appeals across the country, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Sixth Circuit, and the Ninth Circuit. We have handled proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. Copyright Office. We have also represented clients in ICANN UDRP proceedings before WIPO and the National Arbitration Forum.
For our Lansing clients, Revision Legal combines the depth and resources of a national intellectual property practice with the responsiveness and accessibility of a local law firm. We understand Lansing’s business environment and the legal issues that Lansing’s businesses face. Whether you are a startup protecting a new brand for the first time or an established company managing a large IP portfolio, Revision Legal’s attorneys have the expertise and the tools to serve you effectively.
How long does trademark registration take? USPTO trademark registration typically takes 12 to 18 months from the filing date for straightforward applications. Applications that receive Office Actions, opposition proceedings, or other complications may take longer. Revision Legal will keep you informed of your application’s status throughout the process.
What is the cost of trademark registration? Government filing fees per class of goods or services range from $250 to $350 per class depending on the application basis and form. Attorney fees vary based on the complexity of the mark and the number of classes. Revision Legal offers flat-fee trademark registration packages that include the government fee, clearance search, application preparation, and one standard Office Action response.
Do I need to register my trademark before I start using it? No — trademark rights arise through use. But registration provides significantly stronger legal protection and should be initiated as early as possible. You can file an intent-to-use application before your first commercial use, which establishes a priority date from your filing date.
What if someone is already using a similar name? Whether a similar existing use creates a legal problem depends on: how similar the marks are; how similar the goods or services are; whether the existing use is registered; and the geographic scope of each use. A trademark clearance opinion from Revision Legal will assess these factors and give you a practical risk assessment.
One of the most common and costly mistakes businesses make is delaying intellectual property protection until after a problem arises. A trademark that is not registered can be lost to a competitor who files first. A copyright that is not registered before infringement occurs cannot support a claim for statutory damages or attorney’s fees. A trade secret that is not protected by adequate confidentiality agreements may be disclosed without remedy.
The cost of early, proactive intellectual property protection is a fraction of the cost of reactive enforcement after rights have been compromised. Trademark registration, copyright registration, and basic contractual protections for trade secrets are modest investments relative to the value of the brand equity, creative works, and proprietary information they protect. Revision Legal makes these protections accessible through flat-fee service packages that give clients the professional representation they need at a predictable, budgetable cost.
Early protection also creates business value beyond pure legal defense. Registered trademarks and copyrights are balance sheet assets that increase the value of a business in sale, merger, and financing transactions. Investors, acquirers, and lenders conduct IP due diligence as a matter of course, and a well-organized, properly documented IP portfolio signals that a business is professionally managed and its core assets are secure.
Do not wait for a cease-and-desist letter or an infringement lawsuit to make IP protection a priority. Take action now, while the cost is manageable and the available protections are still fully intact. Contact Revision Legal today at 855-473-8474 or through our online contact form to discuss your intellectual property needs.
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