Where can I go to copright something professionally (with as little £ as possible)?

Question

Marcus, I don't think that can really stand up in court: take a cd for example use your method, then when it comes OPEN the package, take another CD, change the date on your computer to the date you write that CD or any date you choose. Then burn the CD & reinsert it in the bag...

or send yourself an envelope, don't close it. when it comes round, insert what you like in it, there's another loophole in your method.

there are more... i've used it and it doesn't work. good storage system, if you have storage but you might as well just leave whatever it is in your hard drive, or get someone else to sign that you wrote such and such whenever you wrote it. even using a camera or a webcam might be an improvemet on the Poorman's Copyright

Answer 1

(I'm assuming you're in the UK since you put '£' and not '$', and that you've written something.)

In my experience when someone asks "how do I copyright my work" what they are really asking is "how do I stop my work getting ripped off".

I'll get to that later, first let's do copyright:

Copyright is a very simple thing, and it means what it says: it is the "right to copy".

The law in almost all the countries of the world (China being a notable exception) says that you automatically own the copyright for any created work that you create, at the moment of its creation.

In other words: every word you write, every doodle you make, every e-mail, every drawing, every photograph, every sculpture, every tune, every software program written -- if it is an original created work then you have the copyright automatically. You don't have to do anything, it's yours, it is a right that you have.

This "right to copy" which you own applies for a specific number of years, for writing and painting it is a number of years after your death. For musical recordings (not the writing of the music) it applies for 40 years in the UK, I think it's 70 years in the USA.

There are further modifications to this:

If the work is created as a consequence of your employment (maybe you are employed to write things) then the copyright is held by your employer.

Also, for example, you could photograph a modern painting (with permission) you don't own the copyright on the painting but you do own the copyright on *that* reproduction of the painting.

You can also sell the right to copy with any restrictions you want, for example: "You can use my article in your magazine once, with no extra fee for reprints."

So far so good.

You cannot copyright an idea, as in "I have this great idea for a book". If you're paranoid (see below) don't tell anyone because they can use it with complete impunity. There is no protection for ideas.

Copyright does not apply to inventions. For that you have patents which protect the "implementation of an idea" (still not the original idea).

Copyright does not apply to symbols, or short combinations of words. That's trademarks and (in the USA) service marks. For example, MacDonalds don't have copyright on "We're loving it" but it is a trademark and is protected, no one else can use it for a similar thing (obviously you can use those words in something unrelated).

In the USA it is possible to officially register your created work. See other answerers for details on this.

Okay, that covers copyright. Now let's look at the real question.

"How do I protect my work from being ripped off?"

Only people new to the business of writing really worry about this sort of thing because no professional is going to rip you off.

Why would they? Would any agent or publisher (or film maker if it's a script) take the risk? Why would they go to the trouble at all?

The answer is: They won't. In fact if you present yourself as someone who's so unprofessional as to think that will happen they won't touch you with a barge pole; they'll just think "Oh-oh, this guy is going to be a problem."

Let us suppose for a moment that you believe someone has, in fact, ripped you off and you take them to court. What you have to be able to prove is "development", if you have lots of earlier versions, sketches, notes, research or whatever, that demonstrates that you have developed the work over time then you will win.

Of course, all the other party has to do is demonstrate the same thing. But no one is going to go to the trouble of faking proof of development, they might as well just write their own anyway because of the work involved. In fact, it would be easier just to pay YOU.

Paranoia is common in newbie writers, it is completely unfounded.

Sending the work to yourself in a sealed envelope is highly unlikely to be accepted in a court of law nowadays. You can register works with the various online companies. This is relatively cheap and here's a few to get you started.

http://www.writerscriptnetwork.com/
http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/
http://www.filmtracker.com/

The whole point is that you can show development and so have "protected" your work.

In the USA there is "official" copyright, but that's in addition to normal copyright law which is pretty much the same.


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Answer 2

Written material is automatically copyrighted because you are the author. You can also copyright it via the Writers Guild of America (WGA) either East or West. If you want to be extra-safe you can go via the Library of Congress, but that may take several months until it's confirmed.

Remember though that titles cannot be copyrighted. So whatever your book, short story or script is called, someone can take this title and use it without repercussions.

Also, ideas cannot be copyrighted. So let's say you wrote a brilliant screenplay based on a brilliant premise. And you send it in on spec but they send you a letter back that they're not interested. And then, some time later, there's your script on the Big Screen! With variations, of course, the girl is now a guy, and it's now all taking place in a whole other country and the ending's been changed, etc. But you recognize your idea. But there's not much you can do at that point.

Much success with your work!

Answer 3

The "poor man's copyright" is an urban legend. Sending a copy of the document to yourself in the mail does NOT offer any extra copyright protection. This will not help you in the courts.

All work is automatically covered by copyright protection from the moment it is put in physical form. However, you must register your copyright to get all of the protections. In the US, this is done with the U.S. Copyright Office. Each country has its own agency that handles such things.

Answer 4

The WGA (writer's guild of America) and the Library of Congress are the best bets.

about 20 dollars each (which is what, 14 pounds), these are the most professional and if you do them you probably won't have to hire a professional lawyer later.

If someone steals something registered with the library of congress, and they are sued in the US, then they have to pay your legal fees.

The WGA is recognized by the film and television industries, and is a good neutral source in court. They also do books and comics though, and will produce a copy for the court that is instant evidence when needed. Disadvantage is that it has to be renewed every five years.

There are other ways of doing it, but they are less reliable, and will cost more to prove later.

You automatically have copyright, copyrighting is just proving it to others.

Answer 5

As I understand it, Barrowman is right in the United Kingdom. Publishing something, i.e. distributing it to others, establishes copyright. It does not protect ideas, which have to be patented.

So far as I know, there are no institutions in the United Kingdom for registering copyright along the lines that other people answering claim to exist in the united States.

The trouble is that if you are an ordinary person you would never be able to afford an action to defend copyright..

The real sanction is moral force in that plagiarism destroys the reputation of the perpetrator.

Answer 6

Publishing material is establishing a copyright. Give, send or post a copy to someone OTHER than yourself and have them note when (hour+date). After this event you have established copyright. Please note that this does not prevent other people from plagiarising your work but only renders them liable for prosecution if it can be proven. Also note that you can not copyright an idea.

Answer 7

I've been hearing lately that a poor man's copyright simply won't work anymore.

But if you want it done "professionally", you'll have to register with your nearest copyright office. (And I'm going on a limb here--seeing that you live in GB.)

And that does take money. Sorry.

Answer 8

Take a copy of whatever it is you want to copyright and then send it in the post to yourself by Registered Post and do NOT open the evelope when it arrives.
By law that document is copyrighted as long as the evelope remains sealed.

Answer 9

like what marcus said, you can send to yourself in the post. I do it this way and it's only the price of a stamp and envelope.

Answer 10

I wouldn't bother. What are you going to do if somone breaches your copyright - spend another £? It could cost you a hundred thousand