It's nothing special and I would be incredibly surprised if someone saw the need to steal it, but I was wondering what precautions I could take to ensure that no one ever could. Is there anyone way to officially copyright it, or does that cost something? I use Creative Commons for my photography, but I wasn't sure if that's actually official...
2006-12-19 10:43:47 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Nicole, that's a good suggestion. My sister is actually a very big fan of Stephenie Meyer's work, so she's sent me to that website before, in an attempt to win me over.
I have Adobe. Does anyone know how to get an Adobe file online?
2006-12-19 12:36:22 · update #1
According to U.S. Copyright law, any original work is immediately under copyright by it's creator the moment it's put into a fixed form (i.e. written down, sculpted, painted, recorded, etc.) without any need to file an actual copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office. However, this only protects you from having someone else steal your idea. If they actually did steal it and use it you can't sue them in court unless you've actually filed with the Copyright Office.
In other words, yes, you're safe to post your work on the web and it will be considered under copyright. If someone took it without your permission the only thing you could reasonably do is have your lawyer send them a Cease and Desist letter. If you copyright your work through the Copyright Office and they stole it you could sue them for monetary damages. You would have to show that you had the idea first. To prove that you came up with the idea first you would have to show in some way that you thought it up (i.e. first drafts, revisions).
Check the U.S. Copyright Office website for more info.
2006-12-19 10:50:43 · answer #1 · answered by Digital Haruspex 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regarding putting Adobe files online:
You need a program called Adobe Acrobat. This is NOT the same as Adobe Reader--Acrobat actually creates the PDF files that can then be uploaded to the Web and read using the Reader program.
A current version of Acrobat will run you from $300-$500, depending on whether you buy the standard or professional version. If you want to upload your PDFs to the Web, you'll also need an FTP client and web hosting space at the very least....
2006-12-20 00:38:42 · answer #2 · answered by Carrie G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An easy way to copyright your work is to send it to yourself by US Mail. But then again, it is a lot safer to go to an agency and have it copyrighted properly. The cost depends on the amount of pages.. It isn't a bad idea to post excerpts of your book online, it might actually improve your chances of selling more copies, but there is always the risk that someone may steal it. Still, I suggest you legally copyright it (you should do it anyway if you've written an entire manuscript) and then post, about half a chapter of your book online and hope it improves your chances of being publicly recognized as an author.
2006-12-19 18:50:30 · answer #3 · answered by A K F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would only post isolated sentences or at most a paragraph online. Any more than that, I'd have the work copyrighted through the US Copyright Office in Washington, DC. It's not that expensive but it is SO worth it!!
2006-12-19 18:52:10 · answer #4 · answered by barrych209 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not unless you don't mind someone stealing your work. Anything you put online is "up for grabs."
According to the U.S. Copyright Office, work is copyrighted when you write it.
You can pay for an official copyright but, it's not necessary.
If you don't want anything stolen or appropriated, never put it online.
http://www.copyright.gov/
2006-12-19 18:53:05 · answer #5 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
be careful about anything that you put on line in the way of intellectual property it will be used if it is any good at all or the idea stolen and redone copyrighting it is no good unless someone becomes really famous and you hear about them stealing your idea so do so at your own risk
2006-12-19 18:46:55 · answer #6 · answered by doc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best advice I can give you is to check with your local library. The reference/information desk should be able to help out with that. Failing that source, a quick call to the information desk at the local newspaper should also glean some info for you.
2006-12-19 18:47:25 · answer #7 · answered by mangamaniaciam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd be careful about this. Be sure to get it copyrighted with the U.S. Copyright Office. http://www.copyright.gov I think they charge a small fee but it's worth it to not have your work stolen.
2006-12-19 18:47:02 · answer #8 · answered by tkron31 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you use Adobe, you can make it so nobody can copy or paste your work. Ask a lady named Stephenie Meyer. She does it with her work on her website.
2006-12-19 19:33:19 · answer #9 · answered by Nicole Brown 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
"I am being paid only for my work in arranging the words; my property is that arrangement. The thoughts in this book, on the contrary, are not mine. They came freely to me, and I give them freely away. I have no "intellectual property," and I think that all claimants to such property are thieves."
2006-12-19 19:09:18 · answer #10 · answered by rusalka 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋