Many creatives believe the myth of the “poor man’s copyright” — mailing your work to yourself and thinking it protects you. In this lesson, entertainment attorney Amy Oraefo explains why that approach is not enough and how to properly protect your work.

You’ll learn how to file a federal copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office, why registration is essential if you ever need to enforce your rights, and what legal protections it gives you if someone infringes on your work.

Amy also explains how copyright infringement cases work, how licensing and sampling are handled in the music industry, and why protecting your intellectual property is critical to building a sustainable creative career.

This lesson will show you how to take ownership of your work, protect your ideas, and avoid costly legal mistakes.