I invented a magic illusion that I would like to market. Can I copyright it to protect marketing rights?

Question

Is it even possible to copyright a magic trick? Is there any reason why I can't effectively market it without a copyright?

Answer 1

You can legally copyright a magic trick, but most tricks aren't copyrighted, because you are the only one selling it and after they buy it from you, whether or not you copy right it, they are entitled to sell it. But only the copy that you sell them! They legally aren't allowed to sell the trick until fifty years from when it was first sold. That is when a trick becomes public domain. So you can copyright a trick, but no one ever does, because mostly what you are paying for is how the trick is done, and the apparatus that is needed to perform the trick.

Answer 2

by your own statement, you have an invention. If your trick involves a process, method or novel use of tools, it can be patented. However there is such a thing as "prior art", and if other magicians have done this before then you are out of luck, a patent requires you be the first ever to think of it.

Answer 3

I was intrigued by your question and looked it up. The answer is yes, thttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_of_magic_methodshey can be copyrighted.