How do I get something legally copyrighted? Do I have to be 18?

Question

I live in the USA.

I was also under the impression that you could only sue for money if you have it registered. Is that correct?

I don't plan on suing anyone but I am curious.

Answer 1

You can do this at the US Copyright Office. The application is fairly simple & the cost is $45 per application.

Despite what others state, a "poor man's" copyright is NOT the same as registering it. Here's what the US Copyright Office has to say:

"The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a 'poor man’s copyright.' There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration."

Here's what the US Copyright Office has to say about minors: http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-who.html#minor

Lastly, check out this link for info regarding the advantages of registering: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#cr – Copyright Registration Advantages

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

No. From the moment you write something you automaticaly own the copyright. You must insert this by marking the work with the internation copyright symbol © followed by your name and the year it was written.
A good way of proving you own the copyright without recourse to layers is to put a copy of the work in an envelope and post it to yourself. When you recieve put it away unopened. If anyone claims to have written the peice before you you can bring this out and show the postmark which gives the date that you posted it and therefore proves when it was written.

Answer 3

Both of the above answers are incorrect. A copyright exists, under law, at the moment you fix your work in a tangible medium from which it can be recovered. (That's lawyer talk for the moment you write it down or put it on your hard drive.)

There is no requirement that you put a symbol on it, no requirement that you register it, no requirement that you mail it to yourself. There's no age requirement. A three year old has a copyright on her drawing in pre-school, automatically, by operation of law.

Registration is only useful if you envision litigation over your work. If you register, you have a prima facie case that your mark is valid - something that is useful only in the litigation process.

Answer 4

It's rather quite simple....you just have to document the work as being your own (date/ time/ etc.), esp if you plan on sharing it on a public space/ forum.....however, if you are really anal about the process, you can go through the local DC Office (Library of Congress) and complete the paperwork for full publishing rights to your work.

Answer 5

Go to a publisher and get it published.

EVEN SIMPLER: get a large envelope and have the contents mailed to you. When you get it, it will be "post marked" (the post office is a federal establishment) DO NOT OPEN when you get it. IF your document is ever used by anyone else, take them to court and sue the hell out of them for using your material. It should still have the post mark on it and use it for evidence against them.

Answer 6

grumpyfiend is right. however, I would also make a copy of the copywritten material so that it could be reviewed without having to tamper with the material you sent to yourself. There are other avenues you could take, but this is the fastest, most cost effective way to do this.

Answer 7

Nothing to it. Just put a copyright mark and the year on it. You don't even need a lawyer.