Copyrighting an image

[tvrbob]

I need to protect the ownership of an image. The image is an original hand drawn work created specifically for its current owner who has digitalised it for business use.

There are companies on the web who charge for copyright protection such as this one. When I read what they offer is doesn't appear to be much more than a 'proof' of the date that the work was registered with them. I have heard that placing an image in a solicitors safe where it is also registered is enough to prove first ownership.

Can anyone offer advice about how I should protect this image?

[tog]

tvrbob said:

I need to protect the ownership of an image. The image is an original hand drawn work created specifically for its current owner who has digitalised it for business use.

There are companies on the web who charge for copyright protection such as this one. When I read what they offer is doesn't appear to be much more than a 'proof' of the date that the work was registered with them. I have heard that placing an image in a solicitors safe where it is also registered is enough to prove first ownership.

Can anyone offer advice about how I should protect this image?

If it is an original work then the copyright is automatic and inherent. If you are going to be using the digital version (presuambly a scan of the original?) then obviously ownership of the original would be enough to settle any dispute as to ownership of the intellectual property. (Unless of course it's a dispute with the artist - I presume the contract when it was comissioned made it clear that copyright would be assigned to the client? If not then copyright will rest with the author, irrespective of who owns the physical artwork.)