Hello DP, Which way do you guys believe is the best way to copyright and protect the unique layout of your site? Taking a screenshot of it, and actually copyrighting it with your government? Some ideas...please.
what exactly would you be copyrighting? The fact that you have a header, a middle and a footer? You'd have to show that no current site exists that has the same / similar layout. I've heard of 'design patents', maybe this is what you mean?
Well lets say the placement of certain things, the color scheme, like I am sure I couldn't take the exact same layout of every page of a site like facebook.com and just call it something else. And what are these "deign patents"? Do you know anything about them?
let me google that for you I have no idea whether a design patent could be applied to something as virtual as a website layout.
Generally the logo, masthead, etc., are first designed offline and then they are submitted to relevant authorities for securing copyright. The legals terms (I forget the exact wordings) are something like: "This image/text is copyrighted to `xyz' and it cannot be replicated, transmitted, broadcasted in part/full through any means, manual or electronic, by print, fax, photocopy, website.. blah blah blah. Any person/persons found doing so shall stand the risk of being be persecuted by law.. (blah blah.. legal implications)