Copy right MERGED (includes 'My work was stolen...')

[DarkLunacy]

Ok stupid question but I'd like to make sure of it. I should of course copywrite a manuscript before sending it off right? And where is that done?

[veinglory]

Work is copyrighted upon creation and the copyright resides with the writer until/unless it is given in writing to another person. What you should hold onto is proof that the work is yours, such as draft copies and rough notes or outlines. If you have money to burn you can register the work with the copyright office as ironclad proof of your authorship.

[DarkLunacy]

Cool thanks! Would notarized copys of the work with post dates be good too?

[riptiderevolucion]

I wouldn't bother spending the money to have it notarized. I'd either register it with the U.S. Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov (http://www.copyright.gov/)) or just not worry about it. Like veinglory said, a work is automatically copyrighted as soon as you create it. Registering your copyright provides added protection. If you are submitting something for publication, don't bother registering the copyright. If it's published most publishers take care of that stuff for you. (I used to work as an editorial assistant and handled all the copyright forms and permission requests and whatnot.) I wouldn't worry about a publisher stealing your work, either. Not that it couldn't happen, but it's highly unlikely. I know from my experience that if I got a manuscript that was already registered with the copyright office I'd think the author was paranoid, pretentious, and uninformed.

[HappyHaHaGirl]

You can always date it, seal it in an envelope, then mail it to yourself and put it away... then the postmark on the envelope is proof of a date or whatever. That's what my mom did when she used to write, so she could just deal with it later. :)

[kozmicblues]

I'm not sure if it was just a typo in the title, but it's copyrighting, not copywritting. that would be pronounced "copyritting" with a short 'i' sound. I know it's probably annoying to be told tiny stuff like that, but if you're planning on mailing manuscripts out, you should be aware of how to spell copyright, it will save you some heartache.

Also, depending on where exactly you're sending it, you might want to take some extra precaution with the license. Obviously if everyone plays by the rules, your work is yours period. However, there are people out there with more power, resources, greed, whatever that are extremely unethical and will take your work. Mailing it to yourself is a good idea. if you know a notary public, that can be cheaper, depending on the weight on the manuscript.
Hope this helps.
peace
ac

[veinglory]

Mailing it to yourself (the so-called 'poor man's copyright' has been tested in court and failed. So that avenue is no longer open. I just send stuff out. I have sold a dozen stories/articles and a book and had nothing go astrya yet. To be perfectly honest most editors are rolling in good material and have no need to steal it -- and the second they did they repuation would be ruined so it isn't worth it. Solong as you stick to reputatble markets the odds of anything going wrong are very low. As a back-up what does stand up as evidence is notes and drafts in old-fashioned pen in ink -- so if you write down any outlines, character sheet etc, hang onto them.

[Rod]

One owns a copyright as of the time of writing.
You, however, cannot produce copy worth anything, literarily or financially. You have no command of English. You are not literate.
You can't spell, Dark Lunacy; ergo, you can't write...don't be fooled by your ego and pretensions to being a writer.
Go back to elementary school and start all over again and this time, learn phonics, spelling, punctuation, etc.
You have watched too much TV. Read books.
Rod

[veinglory]

I would always take a few grammatical errors or a mean-spirited rant (with incorrect punctuation).

[Rod]

If I sound mean, I am so sorry. It is a thorn in my flesh that the art of literature has, alas & alas, gone the way of the dinosaur. It's sad that there are so few who dare, even yet, to dream of some finer, better place and to paint that ever-so-grand a place with words that burn with our yearning.
It seems "mean," to me to nurture false hope in those who aspire to gain the olive wreath of a marathon winner without doing the running, sweating and sweating, mile after mile, that must be done to achieve their dream.
It has been noted in this forum that it's commonly thought that the work of a writer is easy; that anyone can do it...It is not a bit easy and the hard work of creating literary art has suffered from those who do it as easily as anyone,in point of fact, can.
They do not do it any credit. Nor are they any credit to themselves if they do not work their asses off, beginnin' with the basics.
I wish everyone well and I wish them all the peace there is. If I err and, by erring, I hurt someone, it is no credit to me and I will try to do and be a better man for it.
It is essential to me to learn from my mistakes and gawd knows, I make plenty of 'em!
Thanks for being out here in this cyber forum, everybody. There's a place, even in this shitty world, for dreamers. Dare to draem and to reach out & do that which you dare dream. That's the best the world can ask!
Peace to you all. Bliss out!
Rod

[Maña]

So is placing the copy right symbol along with initials and year in effect a copy right?
Thanks
Maña

[winter skye dream]

how can u b sure nobody will take your material....if its worth taking....

[drumminmama]

www.copyright.gov
government site on crlaw
http://www.benedict.com/
service provider. Worth wandering on

http://www.whatiscopyright.org/
good overview of poor man's copyright.

remember any and all posts on hipforums are copyright to the site!

[veinglory]

Writing the copyright symbol on is seen by editors as a sign of an amateur--an amateur implying they might be thieves. Whether the symbols is shown of not the writers possesses copyright upon creation and can only transfer it to another person by a signed statement.

In America only registration of copyright can be used to defend the writer in court--*however* most writers do not register copyright as the likelihood of theft is negligible.

In most other countries any reasonable proof may be used, e.g. notes, publications, earlier versions of the work.

[Sage-Phoenix]

So true
(I was told that by lectuer, who is a professional writer)

Big publishers are generally really trustworthy about copyright. They wouldn't want to pull anything and get their asses sued.

[veinglory]

If you post onlien people may blog or post without attributing. if it bugs me I tell on them to their forum or web host (i am *such* a snitch)

[White Scorpion]

I didn't realize that placing the copyright symbol on a document pisses off most publishers. I'll do it more often now. Thanks for that.

[Kali _in_Oz]

the easiest (and cheapest) way to ensure copyright, or at least give you evidence shoulg you have something stolen, is to print out a copy of your work, and post it to yourself - once you receive the envelope - NEVER open it!!

Because the letter is date stamped by the postal service, you have evidence that the peice of writing in question was in your possession as at that date, and anything published without your permission thereafter is in breach of copyright!

[veinglory]

This poor man's copyright may not be used as evidence in court (the only thing registered copyright is good for). It's validity is a widely reported myth.

[lovelyxmalia]

I put up a piece I wrote a few years back on a writers site I belong too...and I just googled it and someone stole it.

The only thing I didn't copyright gets stolen. I have spent hundreds of dollars copyrighting my work and that is the only piece I didn't.

I'm kicking myself in the ass and I've never been so upset before in all of my life.

[Samhain]

I put up a piece I wrote a few years back on a writers site I belong too...and I just googled it and someone stole it.

The only thing I didn't copyright gets stolen. I have spent hundreds of dollars copyrighting my work and that is the only piece I didn't.

I'm kicking myself in the ass and I've never been so upset before in all of my life.
in the UK anything written is copyrighted immediatly, do you have the original you can prove its been stolen
S

[floydianslip6]

Yea, you shouldn't be paying to copyright things. It's intellectual property. As long as you can prove you created it, digital file creation date, witnesses, etc. You win. (This is in the US) the paying only makes it easier to prove the owner. But it is NOT required. it's still yours. Then again do you really want to prosecute?

Someone recently claimed my photography website was their own, meh. I'm kind of flattered.

You should read up on this stuff, save some money! I'm not at home right now... but I have a book that outlines copyright law basics. Might be a good thing to have posted in this forum and the art forum. When I get home tonight I'll type it up... maybe the mods could sticky it.

[Duck]

whoa, you were paying to copyright your work?

you were getting conned =/

[lovelyxmalia]

I didn't copyright it because I created it on my old computer which is dead so I don't have the original until I hack into that hard drive and get all of my crap off of it

I only spent a few hundred within the past few years to prove it was mine.

I will probably prosecute.

[BlazingDervish]

Just a word of warning regarding copyright and companies that I thought I'd toss in here.

Never create anything at work and then email it to yourself. A good deal of corporations have clauses to say that anything sent via their email system or created on their machines is now the property of the company. Now, I've never heard of it going down about personal writing as much as programming code but I bet if you cranked out a best seller and it went through their server, they'd probably come out of their worm hole to get a piece.

I also believe that forum software also comes with a sort of 'open source' clause. Meaning if you post it on a board without having it copyrighted elsewhere, it's all good and golden for the public to take. Might be worth investigating that a little deeper.

[floydianslip6]

the forum thing doesn't apply to user content on the forum.

As for the work thing, that's very true! Sometimes it goes even further to say that anything created during your working hours is property of the company!

[Samhain]

the forum thing doesn't apply to user content on the forum.

As for the work thing, that's very true! Sometimes it goes even further to say that anything created during your working hours is property of the company!
I can see the point, if your going to be sitting there and typing a 1000 page novel
S

[floydianslip6]

Yea I don't necessarily disagree either. But it's definitely something to keep in mind. Since I'm sure we all get distracted at some point.

[lovelyxmalia]

Yeah I'm looking up now what I can do in this case. I emailed the guy telling him he has no right to post my work on his site claiming it's his own and I left him a nasty message on his guestbook-so others are aware of his doings.