casey Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I'm about to start submitting short stories to various places and was wondering if any of you know how I can copyright them before I send them out. I'm kind of paranoid about passing my writing around, so I'd like some kind of documentation of it existing and being written by me before it's widely dispersed. Does posting something on wordpress or something similar qualify as a work being copywritten? If any of you have any suggestions on how I can cover myself, please let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benchwarmer Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 the easiest/cheapest copyright is to print them out, and mail them to yourself. keep the envelope sealed, and the postmark acts as a copyright. it's the poor-mans copyright, it's what I was taught in school to protect myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest naytoid Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 What he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 I knew someone was going to mention that method. Unfortunately, it's a myth. http://www.snopes.com/legal/postmark.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricsnow Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Really? I've gone all this time thinking this worked.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benchwarmer Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Another Tom Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 It works in the UK, But it does not give you the copyright. it just proves you own it because you have something with a date to say you had the work at that given time. "It's my work because i have proof i had it 3 weeks before the other party used it". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benc Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Copyright is established as soon as a work is created. However, people often register because you can't bring an action against someone unless you have done so. Do it online through the US Copyright Office. And yeah, the "poor-man's copyright" is a myth. You've gotta register. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grindcynic Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 What Ben said, just go to the copyright office site and register for an account I have one for when I stop being lazy and fork over the whole 35$ it costs to get a work copyrighted. The process can be done online and they have a cut and dry tutorial about how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattstrike Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 And can't you copyright up to 10 works with one fee/application? Casey, have you thought about Creative Commons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subhomeseabs Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 They taught me in music business school that the poor man's copyright has a lot of holes in it. I wouldn't do it if you're really worried about someone using your writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 And can't you copyright up to 10 works with one fee/application?Casey, have you thought about Creative Commons? Thanks, Matt. I poked around at their site for a bit. I'll get into it a bit more later, but it looks helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steventangent Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Copyright is established as soon as a work is created. However, people often register because you can't bring an action against someone unless you have done so. You can, you just can't sue for statutory damages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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