[MMFOWV]

Can you experienced potters and ceramic artists please provide information on the simplest and most cost effective method to protect personal pottery designs? I am familiar with paintings and signatures which protect an artist, but do not know if the same will work for pottery design? Please help me out with this issue and thanks to all in advance for any assistance you may provide!

[Chris Campbell]

I don't think the rules are any different than they would be for anything else you were trying to trademark or copyright.
Google and see what applies.

[Sherman]

LGHT, on 21 July 2010 - 10:17 AM, said:

I think it's silly to try and "protect" your designs. I mean come on are you that good your pieces sale for thousands of dollars and need protection? You also have to consider what your going to do if you happen see someone copying your designs. Do you really plan and spending money suing every person that made anything similar to yours if not don't bother.

LGHT, I don't know anything about the work of the original poster, but the merit of the work or what it sells for is not at issue. We'd like to keep this forum constructive, and we appreciate your cooperation in that endeavor. In other words, if you can't say anything nice (or helpful), don't say anything.

MMFOWV, here is the best possible resource you are likely to find: http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/
and this one has a link to a PDF on how to copyright visual works of art: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/
Beyond that, all I know is that you automatically own the copyright to works you create. That said, proving it is difficult and the need to prove it is rare in the case of pottery or sculpture, which is why most folks don't bother registering each and every design or piece they make. The only way to really copyright is to register each design or specific work with the copyright office.

Sherman

[MMFOWV]

Hello Sherman and thank you so much for your responsible and informative answer to my question. I now fully understand the legal process in regard to my question. Again, thank you for the assitance, for which I learned that I have been doing the correct procedure all along without knowing it!

[Chris Campbell]

I for one am glad this has been addressed in the early days of this forum.

There needs to be a place new potters and experienced potters can ask their
questions without fear of being flamed ... and this Forum will be it!

Civility is not a burden.

[Seasoned Warrior]

I'm glad that the direction of this forum has been established in no nonsense terms. Questions are just that and if you really don't want to answer the question don't respond. As far as the original poster goes it has been my experience over the years and with other intellectual properties that the copyright is only as good as the effort you wish to expend to protect it. I have seen where it is extremely expensive and frequently very difficult to protect a trademark/copyright. I'm not saying not to do it but in my opinion it should be worth the trouble. Enforcing the copyright/trademark rests solely with the owner.

Regards,
Charles