What is the easiest method to copyright your work? Or would you have to speak to a lawyer?

Answer 1

I had to research this when I was considering publishing a children's book. I was surprised to find out that there is no special method that has to be done to copyright your material. Your unique work is automatically copyrighted when you create it. One of the easiest ways to prove the date you created it is to mail a certified copy to yourself, getting a postmark date.

There are forms you can file to further protect your work, but unfortunately I don't remember them, or where to file them anymore.

Answer 2

Copyrighting Your Work
This section discusses how to Copyright your works, either implicitly with the Berne Copyright Convention, or explicitly with a formal Copyright notice.

Berne Copyright Convention
Under a convention of the Law called the Berne Copyright Convention, all creative works are copywritten the moment they're in a tangible form.

Tangible form means almost anything other than in your head. Simply dreaming of the world's greatest Web site isn't enough to protect your ideas by Copyright. But once it's in a material form, it's protected. This means that, regardless of whether or not you see a Copyright noticed affixed to a newspaper, Web page, piece of fine art—it's most likely Copyright material, if it's original.

However, many people have never heard of the Berne Copyright Convention. And many people, for some strange reason, fail to respect that most Web site material is Copyright protected, unless they see an explicit Copyright notice (and even then some people don't care). It's to your advantage to place a formal Copyright notice somewhere on your Web site—or on every page. You may not prevent people from stealing your work, but it may deter some people, it makes some people stop and think about whether they really want to "borrow" your material, and it can help you out in case you decide to press charges against someone for Copyright infringement.

Formal Copyright Display
There are three standard ways to display a Copyright notice:
Display a C with a circle around it: ©, which is written © or ©

Answer 3

You can do this at the US Copyright Office – see the last link in the source box. 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."

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

Answer 4

It depends on where you are because copyright laws differ from country to country.

The easiest way from your end is put the "c" in a circle mark with "Copyright 2007 (or the year work was created) ____________ (your name), and send a copy to your National Library or the Library of Congress, if you're in the U.S..

Answer 5

No, the guidelines are rather bent in direction of the copyright holder. contained in u . s . a . of america, copyright has been made computerized (contained in this type of the Berne conference) because March one million, 1989, which has had the end results of arising it seem to be greater like a assets suitable. subsequently, as with assets, a copyright choose no longer be granted or gained by means of first rate registration with any government workplace.

Answer 6

for information on copyright, go to copyright.gov
you could also temporarily mail your stuff to yourself, not open it as it will have the post office date. First make a photo copy of your work.

( to create a copyright symbol on a website or webpage
by using your keyboard, press> alt + 0169 on the numeric pad and © appears in text )

Answer 7

If you write "copyright 2/16/2007 by your name" it is pretty much done