Copyrights

[skyhigh007]

Hi

Has anyone done copyright before? How does the process run ?

[carrera87]

nope sorry m8 nog experience with that.

[2gould]

The US government has a great website and resources for copyrights, trademarks and patents. Check it out and you will probably find your answer.

[BusinessAdviser]

We have done our research regarding copyright law and are in the process of finishing a copyrighted book in a couple months. We've also already registered our trademark (different from copyright). Feel free to ask any questions.

[1entrepreneur]

If you publish things in the public domain, like the Internet, copyright is automatic.

But alot of people like to make that abundantly clear by displaying:

© John Smith 2007

[BusinessAdviser]

If you publish things in the public domain, like the Internet, copyright is automatic.

But alot of people like to make that abundantly clear by displaying:

© John Smith 2007

To clarify just a bit, 1entrepreneur is on the right track in that you don't have to register to obtain copyright protection, but it's even easier than that. If you write something in a journal at home, as soon as your pen hits that paper, you become the copyright owner of your written work. You needn't publish it in the public domain to be the owner of a copyright. For example, if you are working on a book but leave it in a cab, someone else can't copy what you've written and publish it without infringing on your copyright to that material.

Additionally, understand that just because you write/draw/create something, even publishing it in the public domain, may not provide you with copyright protection because it may fall within a category of works that are not copyrightable, such as a procedure or concept. Further yet, even if it's copyrightable, others may still use it without infringing on your rights provided their use falls within certain uses, such as fair use.

Use of the copyright symbol puts all on notice that you are claiming a copyright in the material, and it is to be used with the name of the copyright owner and the year that the material was first created/last updated.

Registering your work provides notice to all that you own the copyright to that work and provides a verifiable date of your work for use should any copyright disputes arise as to who created a work first.

*This posting is not, and should not be considered, legal advice. It is merely the opinion of the poster. For legal advice, seek a licensed attorney.