If I make my own symbol such as something along the lines of a trademark (TM), do I have to register it somewhere?  I have been thinking about adding some type of watermark to posted images, but I would like to be creative and not put low contrast text across my images.  I always thought naively that when you posted something online you had ownership of it, but with some of the forum discussions and the Instagram issue I have become paranoid.  What is a reasonable way to protect your artistic output (assuming that you haven't voluntarily signed the image/item away).

you should try your question in copyrights forum

Hi Medzinatar,

I am sorry I didn't realize that there was a copyrights forum.  I will check it out.

Thanks.

putting a big watermark all over it with your email is the best protection IMVHO.  if the render is any good and has no distinct watermark, some people will steal it and may even claim they created it.

you can register collections of work, which is cheaper than individual, but you dont reaaly need to register at all. Registration does make punative damages available if you need to sue someone. Trademarks must be registered and defended.

Ditto what markschum posted.

Registering your copyright is really only worthwhile if you have something you expect to be significantly valuable.  However, the process in the US isn't hard at all.

A good logo on your art is often all you need.  You can also embedd information in the image in other ways.  If you happen to have Photoshop, it offers you several ways to do so.

A third way to identify your image as yours is to include a distinct but innocuous image as part of it.  Something that you can point out as identifying it as your (for example "hiding" your logo in a poster hanging on the wall in the background of the image).  That sort of thing can identify it to moderators here, or a court, if either should become necessary.

I'm not a lawyer.

Renderosty reads all copy rights belong to the Artist.

but I think they have the right to use your render in add's

a lot of sites have same rules.

other sites may have different rules.

you can get legal copy rights ,patents etc etc
Cost money.

If a pirate in another country sold posters of ya renders.
how would you ever know ?

I just say it's the web ,a lot of pirating.that's just how it is.
I don't worry about it.

Like Mark said. Plus copyright belongs to the artist the moment they create something. So you are protected. Also consider Tarkhis's point. Is anyone really going to steal the average poser render and make trillions? Nope. Is someone likely to put it up on their blog or pinterest giving the the impression they did it. Yea thats possible. Though don't let that make you ruin your work by slapping large unsightly watermarks all over it or using no right-click scripts. They don't work and can actually put peoples off from looking. A small logo is enough and it can become like your brand. If you find someone directly leeching, just change the image to something rude or funny. That'll usually stop it. If it gets serious enough to take action, send a DMCA.

Quote - If a pirate in another country sold posters of ya renders.
how would you ever know ?

It's actually really easy to find out if they are online.

Open up Google Images search engine and drag your posted renders into the search box.

If it is posted anywhere online for more than a few days, it will come up and you can file with that site to have it removed.

If there not online, chances are you will never know.

One of the biggest issues with piracy I've run into has been texture theft of outfits.  There are some who take textures from outfits made for poser and use the the textures themselves, remapped, for clothes in places like Second Life and Utherverse.  They then sell these outfits as their own product, and some do make real money off of it.