How can i get something copyright? How long will it take?

Question

How can I get something copyright? I want to write articles and comics, but i want it copyrighted so no one can steal my stuff. I just need to know where could I go to get it copyrighted and how long do you think the process would take?

What i am really asking for is how i can get rights on what i write so that if i try to do comics , articles, and novels, nobody can come around and steal my work and say that they did it. I want to be able to prove that I did it and not someone else. Just in case i have to take it to court and stuff and i'm siting there telling the judge that i did it ,then he's gonna ask for evidence ( like if i had it copyright, publish, ect.)

Answer 1

The US Copyright Office website. It takes a few weeks. I think it is still 35 dollars. But warning. If you intend to publish something do not do it. Publishers and agents get highly offended. It makes it seem you are accusing them of stealing. Believe me the last thing they need to do is steal your stuff. You own the material from the minute you write it. The best way to maintain your copyright until you are ready to sell it is by not posting online. Posting online almost guarantees you cannot publish. It is way too expensive for legal people to sort out what you own and what has been plagiarized. Keep it to yourself until you are ready to publish and you are fine.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 2

Hi MissMystery,

1) Please bear in mind that you can only copyright *specific* work, not just ideas.

2) Have you already written anything?

If the answer is yes, then I have good news for you: it's already copyright.

The Berne Convention was established in 1886 and guaranteed recognition of copyrights among sovereign nations.

Basically, under the convention, copyrights for creative works do not have to be asserted, declared or applied for - they are automatically in force at creation; i.e. as soon as you draw or write or record something , you are automatically entitled to all copyrights to the work and to any derivative works unless until the copyright expires.

Both the UK and the USA fully subscribed to the berne Convention in the late 80s.

Best of luck with the comics and articles!



(c) pete s ;-)

Answer 3

Contact the copyright office in Washington DC. They'll give you the paperwork and you return it with the fee for each piece you are copyrighting. The fee is legitimate (a relative has worked in copyright for nearly 30 years) so don't freak about having to pay it. I do not believe you can copyright titles, only the work itself.