Registering comic book/cartoon characters in single group? Or register individually?

[Jillval]

If I register a copyright for my comicbook characters or cartoon characters in a group as a single application,will each character be protected individually, let's say if the person use just one of my characters out the group, will they still be infringing? Or, will the person that have to use the entire group of characters all at once without my permission in order to infringe on my copyright? Thank You.

Also, I plan on going through copyright.gov. So, since it takes up to 3 months to know rather my register is approved, will I be better of waiting those 3 months before I publish my work?

Thank You.

 

[Just Blue]

If I register a copyright for my comicbook characters or cartoon characters in a group as a single application,will each character be protected individually, let's say if the person use just one of my characters out the group, will they still be infringing? Or, will the person that have to use the entire group of characters all at once without my permission in order to infringe on my copyright? Thank You.

Also, I plan on going through copyright.gov. So, since it takes up to 3 months to know rather my register is approved, will I be better of waiting those 3 months before I publish my work?

Thank You.

U.S. Law Only. What is your state.

 

[Jillval]

Alabama....

 

[quincy]

If I register a copyright for my comicbook characters or cartoon characters in a group as a single application,will each character be protected individually, let's say if the person use just one of my characters out the group, will they still be infringing? Or, will the person that have to use the entire group of characters all at once without my permission in order to infringe on my copyright? Thank You.

Also, I plan on going through copyright.gov. So, since it takes up to 3 months to know rather my register is approved, will I be better of waiting those 3 months before I publish my work?

Thank You.

You can save time at the Copyright Office website by looking at Circular 44: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ44.pdf

From a copyright infringement standpoint, it is better to register your works prior to publication. With registration, you are eligible for statutory damages of between $750 and $150,000 per infringed work if your work is infringed. Without registration, you would be limited to collecting from the infringer only your provable losses or your infringer's provable profits (which may be negligible and, therefore, not worth the costs of pursuing any legal action over).

That said, no one in the U.S. needs to register their works (which are automatically copyrighted once fixed in a tangible form) to be offered copyright protection.

Thank you for providing your state name.

 

[Jillval]

thanks. really appreciate it. have a nice day.

 

[quincy]

thanks. really appreciate it. have a nice day.

You're welcome, Jillval. You have a nice day, too.