Copyright has been an abiding interest since I first discovered a number of maps copyright protected by me on another agent's web site. In fact, 13 unique maps from my web page were boldly used on another agent's web page - without my knowledge or permission.
What made the discovery so shocking was that I ran across them by accident while looking for an agent to refer a home buyer in the Annapolis area where I didn't have an agent available at that time.
I'm not an attorney and write the following as a real estate broker and having been on the Internet since 1995. That said, for interested parties, copyright protection conveys upon the creation of the image, article, writing, photograph, etc. There is no necessity to have the copyright notice on the material. Nor is it necessary to have the material registered to have copyright protection. What copyright registration provides for is statutory damages. However, the rightful owner of the copyright protected owner of the image (maps in my case), writing, article, unique compilation of information, photograph, etc. may proceed in court against a copyright violator and avail themselves of the protections of the copyright laws. Since some of my maps have been registered and some have not, it's a time consuming process, I chose to proceed with civil litigation against the agents who owned the web page on which I found my maps.
Fast forward to August 2006. I have successfully settled 5 demands for damages in the Tens of Thousands of Dollars with agents/brokers who thought that it was acceptible to help themselves to the images of local maps that they found on my web pages.
The lesson is clear. If you didn't create it, write it, photograph it, draw it, have it made for you for a fee, DON'T put it on your web site. For others who have found themselves in the same situation, don't let anyone get by with using your copyrighted property without your permission.
I'm happy to speak with anyone about this important matter.
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