how do i patent my peotry and songs?

Question

I write poetry and music and i want to make my own website to boost my music carreer but i don't want my poetry to be stolen and used without my premission so how can i patent it or make it legally mine ????

Answer 1

You don't patent things like that. You copyright them.

Answer 2

You don't "patent" poetry and songs, you "copyright" them.

If you live in the United States, US Copyright law protects your work from the moment you create it until 70 years after your death.

However, in order to ENFORCE the copyright, you have to register your work with the library of congress' copyright office. Basically, you have to prove that you created the work before someone else copied it (illegally). Typically, if you are going to sue someone for infringement, the courts want to see a registration.

Registering a copyright is easy. It costs $45 per registration, but starting in July, you'll be able to register for $35 if you file online.

There are many people who will talk about a "poor man's copyright" by "mailing the document to yourself" or "publishing it on a website" or something like that. Again, let me reiterate that copyright law says its protected from the moment you create the work, whether or not you mail it or publish it. However, you'll want to REGISTER the copyright to be able to ENFORCE it.

If I were you, to keep it economical, I'd compile my poetry into one volume and register the entire collection at once with the copyright office. I'd probably do something similar with my music...compile it into a single collection and register that.

Here's the web site to the copyright office:

Answer 3

i'm a poet and screenwriter. the easiest and fastest way to get your stuff patented is to make a copy of your work or works and mail it to yourself. once you receive your work, don't open it! keep it in a safe place.

it comes in handy when you have to perform a piece and you only have a short amount of time to get it copywritten.

good luck!
oh and if you wanna check out my work as well as others (shameless plug) check out the poetry over music site:
http://myspace.com/poetryovermusic

write on!

Answer 4

I would hire an expensive patent lawyer who knows the ins and outs of your wonderful creativity. Perhaps this lawyer could eventually make you legally his.

Answer 5

dont worry nobody is going to still ur poetry or songs anyways

Answer 6

first you need to get it published by a publisher and see if it's marketable.

Answer 7

not patents but copyrights....

Answer 8

You don't patent art, you copyright it. http://www.copyright.gov/

Answer 9

get a patent...

Answer 10

i think you mean copyright.