Everything necessary to achieve legal protection for your intellectual property
By Nimesh Dinubhai Jun 01, 2022
“Copyright” can look like a familiar yet technical term to understand in its absolute sense. Mainly, if referred to in context with websites, this can be a term that most people might not know fully about.
To help you have complete knowledge about it, we will try to cover everything you need to know about website copyright in a comprehensive way for you to simplify all the legality that surrounds the term.
What is website copyright?
Website copyright is a legal authorization that gives the website owner the ultimate right over all the content. With the copyright, the website owner can sell or display their work in whatever regard on any platform.
Copyright does not apply to any or everything. But, the digital content uploaded on the website specifically falls under the category of intellectual property, so whatever information goes on can be covered as copyrighted property.
It could be the images you’ve uploaded, the blog posts you have created for your readers, or perhaps the website’s design.
How is a copyright applicable?
Getting your website copyright registration updated is more systematic than an automatic one. The day you get your copyright, the information on it to date can be claimed as copyright.
However, suppose you do not renew it and still keep uploading newer content in words, images, GIFs, or other states. In that case, it cannot be claimed under the initial copyright you have received.
Do you need a copyright?
If you are a website owner, you might come across the question of whether getting the website copyright is necessary to spend your time and energy on. However, there is no one size fits all answer to this.
If you have a certain kind of content on your website that can get you profits if sold, or content you’ve created with a lot of hard work and wouldn’t be acceptable if someone steals it as it is, then the answer is a big yes!
For instance, if you are a photographer, selling your clicks can be a good source of money. If you are an expert in the XYZ field and create blogs on them, getting them copied might not be something you would like to experience.
However, suppose that is not the case and you feel like your website does not have something extra exclusive that you would mind getting copied. In that case, you might want to save yourself from all the copyright hassles.
How do I get my website copyright?
There is no separate process other than the one during the website creation process. However, you can register with the country’s legal body eventually so that it gets even more weighed than the usual.
It is to be noted that to have a legally valid copyright notice, one cannot move forward without some of the crucial elements like the date of the copyright, the name of the owner, statement of rights, year of publication and the symbol of copyright.
Is it necessary to mention a copyright on the website?
As discussed, every website has a copyright to the content it is producing, provided it is authentic. However, mentioning the copyright on the website can be beneficial to you in a few significant ways.
It is a clear and legit proof of mention that whatever is uploaded is an intellectual property that solely belongs to the owner.
If there is someone who likes your content and is willing to use it, then it becomes convenient for them to get in touch with you
In case of copyright infringement troubles, having a mentioned copyright on the website can be a point in your favor.
How to register for copyright legally
Since the legal process can vary countrywide, there is no sure shot way that can be followed for all countries. However, some of the basic steps that need to be followed are:
Filing for the copyright application either online or offline as per the rules.
Paying the registration fees for copywriting your website
Attaching the soft copy or submitting the hard copies of the website content as per the application procedure and norms.
It is all that would be required as a bottom-line process for getting your website registered legally. However, if you feel this can be a hassle or something that might consume your time, experts like Websrefresh can help you. With their experience in the industry, they can be the exact solution to cut down the troubles of getting your website copyrighted by yourself. So, book a call to know-how!
The House introduced the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 to reform tort law.
AAHOA said the bill would restore accountability in the legal system.
In 2023, the Supreme Court vacated a case on “tester lawsuits” under the ADA.
THE HOUSE OF Representatives recently introduced the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 to reform tort law and mandate sanctions for frivolous lawsuits. AAHOA supported the bill, saying it would restore accountability to the legal system, an issue for small-business owners such as hoteliers.
The bill — introduced in the U.S. House by Republican Reps. Mike Collins of Georgia, Brandon Gill of Texas, Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin and Harriet Hageman of Wyoming — would amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
“This legislation will help restore accountability in our courts, protect job creators from frivolous legal attacks and reform a civil justice system that too often favors abuse over fairness,” said Rep. Collins. “We’re sending a clear message: the courtroom should be a place for justice, not a playground for abuse.”
The act would:
Require sanctions for frivolous lawsuits instead of leaving them discretionary.
Remove the 21-day delay for filing sanctions if the challenged pleading is withdrawn or corrected.
Mandate payment of reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, to parties harmed by frivolous filings.
Allow additional sanctions, such as striking pleadings, dismissing cases, or imposing financial penalties to deter future violations.
Kamalesh “KP” Patel, AAHOA chairman, said that for small-business owners, a single frivolous lawsuit can threaten their livelihoods and undo years of work.
"This legislation gives hoteliers a fighting chance by ensuring those who weaponize the courts face real consequences,” he said. “It's about restoring fairness so our members can focus on what they do best: running their businesses and supporting their teams."
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated as moot a case that could have set a precedent limiting “tester lawsuits” against hotels under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court noted it may still address whether someone can sue a hotel without intending to stay there. The case, Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer, was filed by Deborah Laufer, who claimed the hotels’ websites failed to disclose whether accessible rooms were available.
“Frivolous lawsuits don't just waste time — they siphon resources away from job creation, community investment and growth,” said Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO. “This legislation provides protection for small-business owners who cannot afford to fend off meritless claims. Protecting them means protecting the vitality of Main Street economies across the country.”
AAHOA urges Congress to pass the legislation and protect small-business owners from abusive lawsuits.
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The H-2B visa program protects U.S. jobs and wages, according to AHLA citing a study.
It allows hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the economy.
It provides foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable.
THE H-2B VISA program does not harm U.S. jobs or wages but increases pay and supports the labor force, according to an Edgeworth Economics study. Citing that study, the American Hotel & Lodging Association said the program enables hotels and resorts to meet travelers’ needs while supporting the workforce and economy.
The Edgeworth study for the H-2B Workforce Coalition found the program allows businesses to hire foreign workers for seasonal jobs when domestic workers are unavailable. It showed no evidence that increases in H-2B visas reduce U.S. employment or wages. Instead, each H-2B worker supports three to five local jobs and areas with more H-2B workers saw wages grow 1.6 percent faster.
“Areas that hired more H-2B workers under the higher visa cap saw greater job and wage growth among U.S. workers,” said Steve Bronars, partner at Edgeworth Economics, citing findings consistent with an earlier analysis by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Ashley McNeil, AHLA’s vice president of federal government affairs and chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition, said the new analysis underscores the H-2B program’s clear value to local communities.
“The hotel industry, which is still 200,000 workers short compared to pre-pandemic levels, relies on legal guest worker programs to augment our workforce, particularly to address seasonal demands,” McNeil said. “Access to the H-2B visa program has been critical in allowing hotels and resorts of all sizes to meet travelers’ needs, while supporting the local workforce and economy.”
The program has also helped businesses manage peak-season labor shortages, easing the workload for full-time employees. Landscaping accounts for nearly 40 percent of certified H-2B workers. Hotels and motels account for 8.67 percent, support activities for forestry 6.3 percent and seafood processing and packaging 5.65 percent.
“This study reaffirms what our members have long recognized: despite extensive recruitment efforts, there remains a critical shortage of U.S. workers willing or available to fill temporary positions that are currently being filled by H-2B workers,” said Arnulfo Hinojosa, COO of the Federation of Workers and Employers of America and vice chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition. “H-2B workers allow seasonal businesses to operate at a higher capacity and create more U.S. jobs.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently signed a proclamation raising the H-1B visa fee to $100,000 annually, a move that could affect Indian professionals in the U.S.
AHLA’s survey finds reduced hotel development and renovation plans.
Only 8 percent of property owners are moving forward with new investments.
Survey participants included 387 property owners and operators.
ABOUT 32 PERCENT of U.S. hotel owners and operators are delaying development projects and 24 percent are scaling back plans, according to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. About 8 percent have canceled projects entirely.
“Hotels are eager to invest in their properties and communities but rising costs and uncertain demand are forcing many to put projects on hold,” said AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta. “It’s been a tough year for hotel operators, especially our small business owners. As Congress gets back to work, we’ll focus on advancing policies to spur travel, ease operational pressures and provide our industry the certainty it needs to grow, create jobs and strengthen local economies nationwide.”
The workforce challenges further compound pressures, with nearly half of the respondents, 49 percent, reporting understaffed properties. On the demand side, leisure travel continues to decline. Thirty percent of hotels reported declines in completed leisure stays, while 26 percent saw drops in upcoming bookings compared with the same period last year.
Business, group and government travel also showed weakness, with 15 to 17 percent of properties experiencing decreases in bookings.
The AHLA survey, conducted between Aug. 21 and 29, included responses from 387 property owners and operators across the U.S., representing all hotel segments.
In another recent survey by the Hospitality Asset Managers Association, more than 70 percent of respondents expect a 1 to 3 percent RevPAR increase in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Howard Johnson is marking its 100th anniversary with fried clam–shaped soaps.
The soaps pay homage to an iconic HoJo menu item.
Available at select hotels and for online purchase starting Oct. 3.
HOWARD JOHNSON BY Wyndham marks a century with one of its most famous menu items, the fried clam strip. The brand is introducing limited-edition HoJo’s Original Fried Clam Soap, available at select Howard Johnson hotels across the U.S. and for online purchase beginning Oct. 3.
Designed to resemble the original food item, the soaps are infused with lemon, sea salt and butter in a nod to the butter-soaked rolls that once accompanied the fried clams, according to a statement by Wyndham.
“Howard Johnson is a brand woven into America’s cultural fabric and beloved by millions for generations,” said Marissa Yoss, HoJo’s head of marketing. “As we celebrate 100 years, our limited-edition fried clam soap is a fun, nostalgic tribute to the brand’s storied past and a playful nod to the retro-modern, family-friendly spirit that continues defining our hotels today.”
For World Waffle Day celebrations, Comfort Hotels hosted a one-day Waffle Lounge in New York City on Aug. 21.
The use of AI agents hotels must rethink customer loyalty, a FAU study finds.
The paper proposes strategies as AI becomes the main booking channel.
Researchers warn of ethical and privacy issues.
HOTELS MUST RETHINK how they build and maintain loyalty as artificial intelligence systems make travel decisions and bookings for consumers, according to a study by Florida Atlantic University. The rise of artificial intelligence agents will complicate hotel customer loyalty management.
“AI agents will be the new gatekeepers of loyalty,” said Anil Bilgihan, FAU College of Business professor of hospitality management. “The question is no longer just ‘How do we win a customer’s heart?’ but ‘How do we win the trust of the algorithms advising them?’ Hotels need to prepare for a future where a guest’s preferred brand may be decided before they even open their phone.”
As consumers use AI agents to search for hotels, check availability, compare prices, analyze reviews and make bookings, decision-making will shift to the algorithm, creating loyalty to the agent or its ecosystem rather than to the brand, the report said.
Bilgihan said AI is not influenced by traditional advertising and sorts options based on algorithmic criteria.
“Imagine a traveler asking their AI agent to book a hotel in Miami within a certain budget, with a pool and strong reviews,” he said. “If your hotel doesn’t appear in that recommendation set, you may never be considered. Hotels must design loyalty programs, digital visibility and service experiences that appeal to both human guests and the AI systems filtering choices on their behalf.”
The paper proposes a framework for hotels to rethink loyalty strategies as AI agents become the main channel for travel bookings. While emotional branding still matters for humans, marketers should focus on loyalty programs that engage both humans and AI systems, using customer data to tailor experiences, improve algorithmic visibility and design programs appealing to both, the study said.
Researchers also warned of ethical and privacy concerns, including algorithmic bias, limited consumer understanding of how AI agents work and challenges in brand visibility.
“At the end of the day, technology doesn’t replace the fundamentals,” Bilgihan said. “AI may shape how guests discover and book, but the foundation of loyalty will always be the experience once they arrive.”
The paper in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management was authored by Max Ostinelli, assistant professor of marketing; Ye Zhang, associate professor of hospitality management; Melanie Lorenz, associate professor of marketing and Bilgihan.
New York University’s State of Distribution 2025 found a gap between AI potential and hotel operational readiness, as teams are still developing training, systems and workflows. In May, India’s International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) Kolkata launched ‘NamAIste – IIHM HospitalityGPT,’ the first generative AI platform for the global hospitality industry.