 Are you the victim of stolen artwork? Do you want to make sure your original ideas are protected? Try these three tips. One, use a copyright notice. Although it's not bulletproof protection, it is a deterrent to others and lets them know that you are seeking protection. Two, make sure your idea is original. You cannot protect an idea that you've seen somewhere else. Three, get your work legally protected. File for a federal copyright registration. That's the only way to get federal statutory damages and payment of attorney fees for your copyright. So you want to make sure you file a federal copyright application as soon as you can.