[Morpheus]

I'm very near to launching a blog where I'll display my poetry.

How do I go about copywriting and protecting my work?

Edit: I'm using WordPress embedded in a hosting site as my blogging software.

[nado]

Usually by putting a copyright symbol and your name is enough.

Or you can use something like www.creativecommons.cc which is free and easy to setup legal documents.

But ultimately anything on the web is free game unless you're an organisation with enough money and reason to go to court if someone steals your work.

The best method is to use some kind of techological barrier which would make it difficult for someone to steal your work... but if it's just a blog, don't worry about it.

I think all the major blog softwares out there automatically add a Copyright <your name> <current year>. All rights reserved.

cheers
nathan

[akula]

you can copyright, but you can't protect your property unless you have the resources to sue

i wouln't worry about these things

[Morpheus]

It's damn good poetry!!!!

Lol thanks for your comments

[Morpheus]

By the way, I visted CreativeCommons.cc , and they only let you copyright in which "some rights reserved" where it gives others unlimited priveleges of using my work on their site, as long as they attribute it to me, non-commercial use, etc.

Seems a little bogus...

When bloggers reference other bloggers or use except, is that usually done by permission, or they can just take it and say who it was written by?

Theres a "content theft" checker from what I can remember in which you can input content from your articles and if anyone has stole it, it will show the website. That will make tracing them easier at least and let you decide if you want to pursue legal action on them

[bwoj]

Morpheus,

Under U.S. copyright law you automatically hold the copyright on anything you author. You release the work under whatever terms you choose. The CreativeCommons folks are promoting licenses that encourage sharing and reuse but that model is not for everyone.

If you put original content online, it is likely that someone will rip it off. You can write to their ISP requesting them to take it down or you could take legal action. If they happen to be in Eastern Europe, you probably can't do anything about it.

Your best defense is to continue to write new and original content. People are always seeking new things. Keep people coming back with fresh content. Perhaps encourage fans of your poetry to subscribe to a poem per/week/month or whatever by email.

[Emma S]

You should hold copyright automatically - but do be aware that if your site becomes even remotely popular, some people may lift it and claim the poetry as their own, or your site even get hit by scrapers.

Also watch our for general spamming issues on blogs:
http://www.securitywatch.co.uk/blog-spam.html

[MikeH.]

Also, if you want, there is a Javascript application that will block right clicking on your website, thats one less way they can copy it, and if you paste the poetry as pictures, they wont be able to copy it at all. Just a thought though. If you're looking for the script, there's one at a website called hotscripts.com

[Morpheus]

Thanks for your helpful answers. I'm a little worried, but I'll try the javascript thing.

I have not launched the site and somehow someone found it and was already asking to borrow one of my works! Geeze!

[mercy]

Consult a lawer