How does a person copyright their work? Is it done when you post it automatically when you add the ©?

Question

Is there an agency involved, fees? Just what does it take?

Thank you a;; for the answers and time, I did some surfing and at first only found sites that you need to pay to get your copyright(s) done. THEN I ckicked on a government link and there's the form needed to fill out, add $45.00 and get a copyright certificate shortly after. And yes I have the link!
http://www.copyright.gov/register/literary.html
Be blessed and thanks again,
Gloria

yes I know, spelled some words wrong, but you get the idea!

Answer 1

I am a writer also.The Library of Congress is where copyrighting is done for literature,films,art,etc. they have a website.Just type in Library of Congress. They provide you with everything you need to know and the fees vary.

Simply adding the copyright symbol doesn't make your work copyrighted.If so then everyone would be using it.Sometimes though when a magazine chooses to use your work your work will appear in their magazine as copyrighted.But they will provide you information before hand.

Answer 2

Directly from the official government site.

Copyright Secured Automatically upon Creation
The way in which copyright protection is secured is frequently misunderstood. No publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure copyright. (See following note.) There are, however, certain definite advantages to registration. See “Copyright Registration.”


Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, and a work is “created” when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time. “Copies” are material objects from which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or with the aid of a machine or device, such as books, manuscripts, sheet music, film, videotape, or microfilm. “Phonorecords” are material objects embodying fixations of sounds (excluding, by statutory definition, motion picture soundtracks), such as cassette tapes, CDs, or LPs. Thus, for example, a song (the “work”) can be fixed in sheet music (“copies”) or in phonograph disks (“phonorecords”), or both. If a work is prepared over a period of time, the part of the work that is fixed on a particular date constitutes the created work as of that date.
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Also:

In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. However, registration is not a condition of copyright protection. Even though registration is not a requirement for protection, the copyright law provides several inducements or advantages to encourage copyright owners to make registration. Among these advantages are the following:

Registration establishes a public record of the copyright claim.
Before an infringement suit may be filed in court, registration is necessary for works of U.S. origin.
If made before or within 5 years of publication, registration will establish prima facie evidence in court of the validity of the copyright and of the facts stated in the certificate.
If registration is made within 3 months after publication of the work or prior to an infringement of the work, statutory damages and attorney's fees will be available to the copyright owner in court actions. Otherwise, only an award of actual damages and profits is available to the copyright owner.
Registration allows the owner of the copyright to record the registration with the U. S. Customs Service for protection against the importation of infringing copies. For additional information, go to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import. Click on “Intellectual Property Rights.”
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The "poor man's copyright" offers no legal protection in the U.S., and is completely unneccessary. Registering your copyright offers some additional protections as noted above, but is NOT required.

Answer 3

No. You have to register your work with the federal government to get a copywrite. Google copywrite and It will suggest the right place to go among other.

A 'Poor Man's Copywrite' is gained by mailing yourself a copy of your work. Do not open the envelope and the postmark will prove when you wrote it.

It's best to have a legal copywrite.

There are copywrite lawyers who may be able to help you in this.

Answer 4

You create the copyright by the fact of writing it.
The only reason for doing any of the other things is if you actually have a good reason to think someone will try to claim it as their work.

Answer 5

You must REGISTER for copyright. Go to this site to learn everything you need to know to do this. You have to go through legal procedures.

http://www.directlegal.com/

Answer 6

I don't know girlfriend. I have been trying to figure that out for some time now because I write poetry and everyone that I ask, (instead of trying to get me some helpful information) they don't know or just not telling me.

And if you don't know people will lead you astray and take what's rightfully yours.