Copyright safeguards original works of authorship, including drawings, paintings, digital art, sculptures, and illustrations.
Your work qualifies if it’s independently created and shows creativity through your artistic choices subject matter, composition, color, or style.
However, simple designs like basic shapes, symbols, typography, or minimalist word logos usually aren’t copyrightable. Those might qualify for trademark protection instead.
Copyright automatically applies the moment your artwork is “fixed” in a tangible form painted, drawn, or digitally saved.
You don’t need to register for basic protection, but registration gives you stronger legal rights if your work is ever copied or sold without permission.
Protected art includes:
Graphic and concept art
Sculptures, photography, and architecture
Paintings, drawings, and digital illustrations
Registration lets you pursue legal action and potential compensation, including attorney’s fees and statutory damages.
As the copyright owner, you alone have the right to:
Reproduce and sell your work
Create derivatives or adaptations
Distribute or display your art publicly
Anyone who uses your art without permission is infringing on your rights.
Your art is considered published if it’s distributed or offered for sale.
Simply displaying your work like posting online or exhibiting in a gallery doesn’t count unless it’s for sale.
Examples:
Gallery piece for sale = published
Social media post for display only = unpublished
Normally, you own the copyright to what you create.
The exception: work made for hire art created as part of your job or under a contract specifying that ownership belongs to someone else.
Always review contracts carefully before signing away rights.
If your art is stolen, resold, or used without consent, you can take legal action; especially if your work is registered.
Claims can be filed in federal court or through the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) for cases under $30,000.
Justice for Artists helps creators fight back against unauthorized use covering all upfront legal fees and getting paid only if you do.
As the copyright owner, you alone have the right to:
🖌 Reproduce and sell your work
🖌 Create derivatives or adaptations
🖌 Distribute or display your art publicly
Anyone who uses your art without permission is infringing on your rights.
