Copy right?? how to do??

Question

OK, i want to publish some of my work but i need to copy right it first (obviously!!) so, how do start?? and how do i know ive dun it rught?
also, if someone has nicked my work, how do i sue them with teh proof of copy right?

Answer 1

You can get the papers you need on line and you'll have to sent then a copy of your piece. I have to go through the same thing cause I'm an artist. I found a book at a book store that had the papers I needed. You send them the copy with your piece and pay them (I think it went up) $20. In my day it was $10.

There is a non secure way to do it, you can take a copy of your piece and mail it (snail mail) to yourself but don't open it. The post mark serves as a date that you mailed it and shold only be opened by a lawyer.

Answer 2

The quickest way is to put your work in a sealed envelope and mail it to yourself. Then DON'T OPEN IT. The postmark on the sealed envelope will prove when you wrote it, and as long as it's not opened until the judge opens it, it's admissible in court.

If you really want to formally copyright it, go to the Library Of Congress website and follow the links. It costs somewhere around $50.00, and the process takes about 6 or 7 months to complete.

EDIT: That's interesting, Cnote, that you mention that on the Copyright website it says that the poor man's copyright is "no substitute for registration." What that tells me is that it's no substitute for a check made out to the Copyright Office. I've also got some beachfront property in Colorado...

Answer 3

In the US and some other countries -- copyright protection is automatic as soon as you create (publish = "fix in a tangible medium") the work.

You can register the copyright to get additional protection -- and many countries require a copyright notice ("Copyright YEAR by NAME. All rights reserved.") before copyright protections apply.

Registration helps if you need to sue someone -- though the laws vary significantly by country.

Answer 4

DO NOT MAIL A COPY TO YOURSELF! its not real protection more of an urban myth
straight from the US Copyright Office:
"I’ve heard about a “poor man’s copyright.” What is it?
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. "

anyways technically you own the rights to what you created once you have it in tangible form, however to prove ownership in case of a dispute you should register it.

it cost $45
http://www.copyright.gov/register/

Answer 5

Your work is automatically copyright the instant you place it "fixed form". By this standard, both your question and my answer are copyright.

for authoritative answers about the rest of your copyright questions, visit www.chillingeffects.org.