It is necessary to become an attorney who specializes in copyright law and related topics in order to become a copyright agent. There are several types of copyright agents, and this article focuses on working as a representative who handles copyright infringement complaints for a company, typically a media company. When copyright infringement on the internet became a growing problem in the 2000s, companies handling digital media from a variety of sources needed representation to handle infringement complaints, the demand for people who could fill this role skyrocketed.
A copyright agent’s job is to act as a point of contact for a company. If a person believes that a company is infringing on her copyright, she can file a claim with the company, explaining the situation and requesting that it be corrected. She can also appoint an attorney to represent her. For example, an author’s copyrights are enforced by her publisher. The publishing house makes its copyright agent’s contact information public so that anyone with infringement concerns knows who to contact. A person who wants to work as a copyright agent must be able to work in a variety of settings and with a wide range of people.
The copyright agent must be a lawyer because he must be able to evaluate infringement claims to see if they are valid. Some copyright agents also serve as general counsel for the companies for which they work, while others lead the company’s intellectual property division. Companies may outsource this work to a law firm, with someone acting as a copyright agent for multiple companies. Obtaining a law degree, as well as passing the bar, is essential for someone who wants to work as a copyright agent.
When it comes to issues like fair use of material on the internet, copyright law is complicated and can be difficult to navigate. A person who wants to work as a copyright agent should get more training in this field and attend seminars on online intellectual property management and other related topics. When it comes to reviewing complaints of copyright infringement and deciding how to handle them, this training will be extremely useful.
A person pursuing a career as a copyright agent may complete law school, pass the bar, and work for a law firm that specializes in intellectual property litigation. This gives students hands-on experience in the field. Some may intern with copyright agents to gain experience with how businesses handle infringement complaints. This work experience is usually required before people can apply for jobs where they will be in charge of legal departments and issue legal statements on their own authority rather than under the supervision of someone with more experience and training.