Off topic? Copyright info please

Question

I am a web designer and design pages mostly for small
businesses.
I am wondering about the ins and outs of copyrighting a web
site.
Does anyone on this forum, who is a designer regularly,
copyright the sites they create?
If so, are you copyrighting for yourself as the creator of
the site protecting the design or for the client as the owner of
the site protecting the content (or design and content for that
matter)?
Also, who foots the bill (rather pricey), if a site is
copyrighted, the client or the designer?
Finally, does one go direct to the feds to copyright a site
or do you go through a third party such as www.gocopyright.com
Thanks a ton.
PF

Answer 1

> Does anyone on this forum, who is a designer regularly,
copyright the
> sites
> they create?
The act of creating work grants the artist the copyright.
REGISTERING a copyright is different, and requires you filing
it with an
application fee with the USPTO (if you are in the US).
> If so, are you copyrighting for yourself as the creator
of the site
> protecting
> the design or for the client as the owner of the site
protecting the
> content
> (or design and content for that matter)?
Typically, when a client pays you for the work, you hand over
the copyright
in exchange for payment. Unless it states otherwise in your
conract.
> Also, who foots the bill (rather pricey), if a site is
copyrighted, the
> client
> or the designer?
Again, having it copyrights costs you nothing. You don't have
to do
anything.
REGISTERING it costs money, though not that much, and I'd
have the client do
that if they want to.
> Finally, does one go direct to teh feds to copyright a
site or do you go
> through a third party such as www.gocopyright.com
I don't see any reason to go through 3rd parties.
Now, Trademark/Patent laws, that's a different can of
worms...
-Darrel