Can a dance be intellectual property?
Michael Chiappetta, attorney and senior editor in the Intellectual Property & Technology Group at Thomson Reuters Practical Law, explains that you can copyright a dance as long as it’s “an original work consisting of the composition and arrangement of a related series of dance movements and patterns organized into a …
Is dance choreography intellectual property?
Under the Copyright Act of 1976, choreography is directly addressed and—once registered—protected as long as it is “fixed.” Attorney and former dancer Gregory DeSantis, who focuses his work on trademark and copyright law, says the definition of “fixed” choreography lies in the difference between something imagined and …
Is there copyright in choreography?
Choreographic works have been expressly copyrightable under the Federal Copyright Law in the United States for sixteen years. Although many choreographers have registered their works, only one infringement case has reached the Federal courts.
Can dance moves be patented?
Dance moves themselves are not trademarkable because they are not used to identify where goods or services originate, unlike a logo, slogan, or brand name. However, a dance move can be trademarked in that the name of that dance move can be trademarked. Take a look at Tebowing or Kaepernicking.
Can you own choreography?
In US law, choreography is protected under the 1976 Copyright Act, but this has a range of stipulations. The law differentiates between social dances, which everyone can perform, and choreography performed by experts. This means that no one can pop in and copyright the conga.
How much does it cost to copyright a dance?
Registering your work at the U.S. Copyright Office will cost you some money—from $35 to $125 depending on the number of works you submit and the method of registration—online or via email. If you want to protect your work, learn how to copyright it.
Can ideas be copyrighted?
Copyright does not protect ideas, concepts, systems, or methods of doing something. You may express your ideas in writing or drawings and claim copyright in your description, but be aware that copyright will not protect the idea itself as revealed in your written or artistic work.
How can we protect choreography?
The best way to protect an original choreographic work is to register it’s copyright.
Who owns the rights to choreography?
If creating choreography for dances was part of the scope of the teacher’s job—and if the dances in question were actually created during her employment with your studio—your studio owns the rights to that work.
How does copyright relate to dance?
1. Your choreography and copyright. A copyright owner can transfer the copyright, or parts of it, to others. However, to be protected by copyright law, your choreography does need to be both ‘original’ and recorded in ‘material form’ (documented in some way—recorded on video or written down in dance notation).
What is the importance of choreography in dance?
One of the most important aspects of all dance, including hip-hop, is choreography. Choreography is the art of creating a dance routine by grouping together and organizing different dance moves into sequences and patterns that can be done to a specific song, beat, or melody.