| 1. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: When a client has our firm design a building or purchases a stock home plan, they should understand and comply with the following highlighted points of Federal Copyright Laws and Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act: a) COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION: As a matter of standard business practice, Judi Smith Designs, Inc. sends a copy of all design drawings & blueprints to the Library of Congress Copyright office for Copyright Registration. This registration establishes Judi Smith Designs, Inc. as the sole owner of the copyright of the design, plans, and blueprints. b) BUILDING PLANS ARE COPYRIGHTED: Just like books, movies and songs, federal copyright laws protect the intellectual property of Judi Smith Designs, Inc. These legal protections exist to protect all parties. Copyright laws respect and support the intellectual property of the original designer, and prevent anyone from using the design without written permission. c) DON'T USE PLANS TO BUILD MORE THAN ONE BUILDING: When you purchase construction documents, we, as licensor, are granting to you, as licensee, the right to use the documents to construct a single building. This is an exclusive license, which may not be resold, duplicated, published or distributed without written permission of Judi Smith Designs, Inc. d) REPRODUCING BLUEPRINTS: Construction blueprints may not be reproduced without prior written consent of Judi Smith Designs, Inc. If additional sets are required for estimating or construction, please contact us to purchase these sets at a nominal cost. Copy shops and blue printers are prohibited from making copies of these copyrighted documents. e) USING THE PLANS: As a plan licensee, you may lend the building plans to third parties (builders, contractors, sub-contractors, inspectors, governmental agencies, etc.) as necessary to assist in the construction of the building involved. All such lent plans must be retrieved and destroyed, except for the owner's reference sets, and those sets required by governmental agencies, after such assistance has been completed. f) WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT? All parties, including the purchasers, designers, drafters, homeowners, builders, contractors, sub-contractors, copy shops and blue printers may be responsible if a copyright is violated. It does not matter if an individual knows that a violation is being committed. You've heard it before: ignorance of the law is not a valid defense! To avoid legal complications and damages, it is critical that you be certain of the original plan source and refuse to be a party to any illicit copying or borrowing of designs, derivative works, prints and design features. g) PLEASE RESPECT BUILDING DESIGN COPYRIGHTS: In the event of any suspected violation of a copyright, or if there is any uncertainty about the plans purchased, Judi Smith Designs, Inc. should be contacted before proceeding. If a violation of a designer's copyright is suspected, Judi Smith Designs, Inc. should be contacted. Awards are sometimes offered for information about design copyright infringement. h) PENALTIES FOR INFRINGEMENT: Penalties for violating a copyright may be severe. The responsible parties are required to pay the designer actual damages (which may be substantial), plus any profits made. The copyright law also allows the designer to recover statutory damages, which may be as high as $100,000. Finally, the infringer may be required to pay the designer's reasonable legal fees, which often exceed the damages. i) ADDITIONAL COPIES OF BLUEPRINTS: If you need additional sets of blueprints, for any reason, they are available for purchase. j) OWNERSHIP OF COPYRIGHT: The designs, plans, and blueprints created by our firm are protected intellectual property of Judi Smith Designs, Inc. under the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act. k) COPYRIGHT LAW(S): This notice is for informational
purposes only. It is not a substitute for the entirety of the copyright
law(s). For more detailed copyright law information, please refer to the
United States Copyright Office |