How to Become a Copyright Lawyer
A copyright lawyer established the rights of creative works, such as songs, photographs, books and films, and protects them from theft and unauthorized use. These lawyers often work for film studios, book publishers and other large concerns, but they may also represent individual artists.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Seek out law school courses in intellectual property (IP) rights. Concentrate on copyright law, entertainment law and intellectual property rights and licensing. Many creative organizations and individuals also own trademarks, so take trademark law classes to cover a broad range of possible IP subjects.
-
2
Study changes in the U.S. and worldwide copyright laws. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty and the digital age have ushered in a whole new set of challenges for copyright lawyers. Look for ways to protect clients' royalty income and copyrights in the era of new media and downloading.
-
-
3
Learn about the difference between a copyrighted work and a work-for-hire created by an employee of a company, such as a movie studio. Study cases that involve workers suing over copyright ownership. Deal with the complexities of copyright infringement, another burgeoning problem in the digital world.
-
4
Write papers on legal issues posed by social networking sites, by DVD copying and by video sharing sites. As a copyright lawyer, you'll need to protect the creative rights and income of writers and other individuals and still allow individuals to share information in the digital realm.
-
5
Work as an intern for record companies, publishers or software manufacturers and other firms that deal in creative expression and intellectual property. Learn firsthand about DRM (Digital Rights Management), cryptography and other new copyright protection.
-
1
