| Copyright is the writer's security blanket. It just | | | | public record and--get this--if youregister and |
| makes you feel better to know your words are | | | | someone later infringes on your copyright and |
| protected. I once knew a writer who was so | | | | you take them to court,you will be able to sue |
| scared his work would be stolen, he never sent it | | | | for "statutory damages and attorney's fees". With |
| anywhere. Talk about counterproductive! But if | | | | anunregistered work you can only get an award |
| you can understand these four simple copyright | | | | of actual damages and profit. To learnmore on |
| keys, you can rest easy and submit at will. | | | | how to register your literary work go to http:// |
| 1. Create! | | | | 4. Send Copies to the Library of Congress. |
| That's all you have to do to copyright something: | | | | Once your book is published, you're required to |
| write it. You don't have to publishit and you don't | | | | send two copies to the Library of |
| have to register it with the United States | | | | Congress. It's called a "mandatory deposit of |
| Copyright Office, althoughthere are certain | | | | published works". If your book isproduced by a |
| advantages to registration (see below). The | | | | traditional publisher, the people there will do this |
| moment a piece iswritten down, it automatically | | | | for you, but if youare self publishing, keep in mind |
| gains copyright and that copyright is owned by | | | | that you have to do this yourself. You have |
| theauthor. | | | | threemonths after publication. It doesn't hurt your |
| 2. Give Notice. | | | | copyright if you don't do it but,according to the |
| That's when you put that little encircled "c" on the | | | | Copyright Office, "failure to make the deposit can |
| work. You can also use the word | | | | result in finesand other penalties." |
| "Copyright", then your name and the year of first | | | | That's it! Pretty simple, really, but all the more |
| publication. For instance, thisarticle is "Copyright | | | | reason why it should not become anartificial |
| 2005 Sophfronia Scott". It tells the world that the | | | | roadblock to your continuing and submitting your |
| work isprotected so someone can't show up in | | | | work. One last note: youcan't copyright an idea. I |
| court and claim they didn't know it was. | | | | have heard writers say they submitted a story |
| Speaking of court... | | | | or bookproposal and someone else came out with |
| 3. Register Your Copyright. | | | | a book just like it, so the agent/editor/writer |
| Again, registering with the United States Copyright | | | | must have stolen their idea. Well, not quite. It is |
| Office is really just a legality. | | | | highly likely that someoneelse just had the same |
| You don't have to do it. But you do get a few | | | | idea. It does happen. And yes, it is possible for |
| benefits for the $30 fee that are | | | | someone tosteal your idea--just make REALLY |
| worthconsidering. | | | | sure that they have done so before you make |
| Registration makes your copyright a matter of | | | | theaccusation. |