What is the best way to copyright your poetry or lyrics?

Answer 1

Here you go mate
http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/

Answer 2

Oh good grief, when will people learn, posting stuff to yourself is NOT accepted as proof of ownership when it comes to copyright.

There is no "best way" to copyright your poetry or lyrics -- because in every country in the world (except China) you automatically have copyright. That's it. You don't have to *do* anything, it's a legal right, you created it, so it's yours.

Nothing else. Nada. Nothing.

In the USA you *can* do an official copyright form, but that's not necessary either.

However, when people ask "how do I copyright" what they really mean is "how do I protect". Which is something else completely.

Proof of development is what you need in a court of law. If you can prove development of your created work then you win. Handwritten copies that show how the work has developed, or sketches if it's an image. These are the things you need. And you don't have to post them to yourself.

Of course no professional is ever going to rip you off, in fact anyone who is so unprofessional as to imply that another professional would, will be dumped.

Why would any professional steal your work? It's easier to either do it themselves or just pay you.

If you're really paranoid you can deposit your work with an online repository. Just do a web search.

Answer 3

In the UK you just need to point out somewhere that it is copyrighted and by whom. Most people put the year also.

It is also a good idea to post a copy to yourself and not open the envelope so that should you need to dipute the copyright in the future you have proof of date you copyrighted it.

Answer 4

posting it to yourself - preferably recorded delivery - and not opening the envelope doesn't technically copyright the work. to do that you have to register it with a copyright agency - for music/lyrics that would be mcps, i'm not exactly sure where it would be with poetry or fiction. i think others have given you links to appropriate sites.

what posting it does do, though, is provide evidence that you had ownership of the work before a certain date. (obviously it doesn't *prove* that you wrote it!) then, if someone else tried to publish the work claiming that it was theirs, you would be able to challenge them based on this evidence.

Answer 5

I know you can self copyright y adding the copy c and year, you should also send your self a copy and not open the envelope to have proof of date and copyright.

Answer 6

John R is right. If you print them out, send them to yourself. Don't open the enveloppe. The PO stamp will be a proof of date if you ever have a problem. It is the cheapest way to protect your rights, especially if your work hasn't found a publisher yet.

Answer 7

I find the best way is to stuff your lyrics in an envelope and post them to yourself by recorded delivery. DONT OPEN THE PACKAGE! This will help you, me thinks...

Answer 8

Go to: Copyright.gov