This just popped in my head, but does anyone know if our internet "usernames" can be copyrighted? Some artists use these "handles" as their signature on the images they post. Usernames have become our second identity in ways,so I was wondering if this could potentially be used as a legal loophole to get around copyrights, which would be a bad thing...right? I would think that the "name" itself would have to be patented or licensed to make it legit! Anyways...just thought I'd ask!

Interesting question...better go register twopynts.com right now! ;P

As far as I know you can only have copyright assigned to your name, unless you have a legally registered business or company name, so user names probably wont count in court. (May vary in some countries) the international copyright law isnt recognized by all countries. Moreover the logo isnt recognized in some countries, so you have to have (copyright artists real name and year) to have a chance of making it legally binding. as I understand it

"as I understand it", we hold artistic copyright whether noted on the image or not. The proof would be in the pudding..all the mess after cleanup if a case were to be pursued..I am posting from memory and an certainly not a legal authority. That is my understanding. If a copyright were to be registered for an image, certainly that would be done in the real name. I am not certain the addition of or name to an image here has any bearing whatsoever on the artistic copyright. It appears more of a "warning" to image hijackers than anything else, but do they care? Who chases after them? Many images which are copyrighted do not necessarily have a signature attached, yet the copyright is valid.

AFAIK TD is right. Over here anything I make is automatically my copyright unless I specifically release my copyright to that particular image. I don't need to print my on the image to magically obtain it.

Yikes, my memory is still intact! TomDart. PS> for anyone needing a shortcut to , in Microsoft Word it is alt+0169. Hold alt and hit the numbers on the number pad. again....this info is known and is NOTTomDart.

Just one more reason to own a Mac, just press (option) (g) = This knowledge is in the public domain and not subject to TwoPynts or KramerKreations.

very intersting..but I can't answer you....the only thing I know is that you can buy your own domain ....maybe it is the same with a username..I am not sure

Wouldn't be a secret if you registered it would it :D

Sorry, my comment of "copyright artists real name and year" is the correct format in which to place a copyright statement. Copyright is obtained on creation, regardless of a copyright statement or lack of. Using another name of a copyright statement will make it harder to prove ownership as you have to prove that you are the person that the name relates to. It all gets pretty futile after all that, image thieves are not easy to trace, you may never know they have stolen your work and or used it unless you get lucky or they are stupid (some are) But most are cunning and clever.

Actually a name would be a trademark. This you could do, very easy really. I mean it, my brother is starting up a custom guitar buisness and so I know about that stuff. I think he told me it was $300 to register a name as a trademark. It would be the same as the name Burger King, or Paramount. If its the username you want ot lock,so no one else can use it legally on some site and then make others think its your work,then thats the way. Just be warned its tough to stop everyone,but registering it as a trademark can be done. http://www.uspto.gov/

Well your work is copyrighted the second you do it. Its just that without the registering no lawyer will really take the case. It is still copyrighted, its just that with the registration that they are allowed to sue for in the $100 or thousands for each offence and as well get the lawyere fees paid. That the real reason to register, since it allows a more forcefull threat behind anything. Check out http://www.copyright.gov/ for the copyright laws.