System and method for embedding and retrieving information in digital images and using the information to copyright the digital images

1 . A method for applying for copyright registration for at least one digital image, the method comprising the steps:

receiving at least one digital image file along with information associated to the at least one digital image;

parsing the associated information and storing each piece of parsed information in at least one field of a record of a database;

populating at least one field of a copyright registration form with information extracted from the database; and

transmitting the copyright registration form to a copyright office of a particular jurisdiction.

2 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the associated information is a separate information file that is linked to the digital image file.

3 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the associated information is appended within the digital image file.

4 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the associated information includes at least one of a title of the at least one digital image, name and address of author of the at least one digital image, year of creation of the at least one digital image, the date and nation of publication of the at least one digital image and type of authorship.

5 . The method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step transmitting the at least one digital image file to the copyright office.

6 . The method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step periodically retrieving an updated copyright registration form.

7 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the transmitting step includes:

printing the populated copyright registration form and a predetermined number of copies of the least one digital image; and

mailing the populated copyright registration form and the predetermined number of copies of the least one digital image to the copyright office.

8 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein transmitting step includes electronically transmitting the populated copyright registration form and a predetermined number of copies of the least one digital image over a network to the copyright office.

9 . The method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step receiving a confirmation that the copyright registration form has been received at the copyright office.

10 . A system for applying for copyright registration for at least one digital image, the system comprising:

a digital imaging capture device comprising:

a capture module configured to capture at least one digital image;

a processing module configured to associate information to the at least one digital image; and

a transmission module configured to transmit the at least one digital image and the associated information to a computing device; and

the computing device comprising:

a communication device configured to receive at least one digital image file and associated information; and

a processor configured to parse the associated information and store each piece of parsed information in at least one field of a record of a database, populate at least one field of a copyright registration form with information extracted from the database, and transmit the copyright registration form to a copyright office of a particular jurisdiction through the communication device.

11 . The system as in claim 10 , wherein the associated information includes at least one of a title of the at least one digital image, name and address of author of the at least one digital image, year of creation of the at least one digital image, the date and nation of publication of the at least one digital image and type of authorship.

12 . The system as in claim 11 , wherein the digital imaging capture device further comprises a display module for prompting a user with at least one question to input the associated information regarding the at least one digital image.

13 . The system as in claim 12 , wherein the computing device is configured to transmit the at least one question to the digital imaging capture device.

14 . The system as in claim 12 , wherein the computing device is configured to retrieve an updated copyright registration form, determine the at least one question from the updated form and transmit the at least one question to the digital imaging capture device.

15 . The system as in claim 11 , wherein the digital imaging capture device further comprising an auxiliary input module configured for generating at least one of the associated information.

16 . The system as in claim 10 , further comprising a printing device configured for printing the populated copyright registration form and a predetermined number of copies of the least one digital image.

17 . The system as in claim 10 , wherein the processor of the computing device is further configured for electronically transmitting the populated copyright registration form and a predetermined number of copies of the least one digital image over a network to a server of the copyright office.

18 . The system as in claim 10 , wherein the associated information is a separate information file that is linked to the digital image file.

19 . The system as in claim 10 , wherein the associated information is appended within the digital image file.

20 . A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for applying for copyright registration for at least one digital image, the method steps comprising:

receiving at least one digital image file along with information associated to the at least one digital image;

parsing the associated information and storing each piece of parsed information in at least one field of a record of a database;

populating at least one field of a copyright registration form with information extracted from the database; and

transmitting the copyright registration form to a copyright office of a particular jurisdiction.