McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Where do i go, and how would i even begin to copyright my material.

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LizW65:
Technically, anything you write (at least in the US, not sure about elsewhere) is copyrighted from the moment you write it.  The easiest way, though this really isn't recommended, is to put a copy of the manuscript in an envelope and mail it to yourself; when you get it back put the postmarked envelope, unopened, in a secure place such as a safety deposit box.  Here's a better way to do it:
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

Philliph:

--- Quote from: Darwinist on July 16, 2009, 02:20:46 PM ---It may be off tangent from the OP, but I'm kinda interested in this also.

To jumpstart my writing again and keep me focused, I started posting whole chapters of my book online as I write them. Trying to get feedback from a few friends of mine who live out of state. I'm wondering, how concerned should I be about copyright here. I'm the intellectual property owner as they say in legal speak, but I've not copyrighted any of it or put any disclaimers on my website as such. For legal purposes and to avoid having someone plagiarize or rip me off - is this something I should do? And if so, can someone link me where I should look for the proper steps I should take.

I kinda get the idea that this is what the OP is looking for as well.



--- End quote ---

ARRRG
This is exactly what i was trying to ask. Perhaps the website for the forums itself should be passworded to prevent plagiarism.


--- Quote from: LizW65 on July 16, 2009, 04:32:06 PM ---Technically, anything you write (at least in the US, not sure about elsewhere) is copyrighted from the moment you write it.  The easiest way, though this really isn't recommended, is to put a copy of the manuscript in an envelope and mail it to yourself; when you get it back put the postmarked envelope, unopened, in a secure place such as a safety deposit box.  Here's a better way to do it:
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

--- End quote ---

Also very helpful. i appreciate the responses.

Starbeam:

--- Quote from: Philliph on July 16, 2009, 10:37:14 PM ---ARRRG
This is exactly what i was trying to ask. Perhaps the website for the forums itself should be passworded to prevent plagiarism.

Also very helpful. i appreciate the responses.

--- End quote ---

That won't necessarily prevent plagiarism.  I came across this article/blog http://howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com/2009/07/anti-plagiarism-day-friday-17-july.html earlier today.  Basically, someone on an online writing workshop plagiarized someone else's work.  Granted, it's an extreme case.  Also, I've seen some people say to be wary of posting online because of first publishing rights, cause some publishers/agents/whatnot consider internet publication to be a loss of that.  Though that does look to be something of a real gray area.

Mickey Finn:

--- Quote from: LizW65 on July 16, 2009, 04:32:06 PM ---Technically, anything you write (at least in the US, not sure about elsewhere) is copyrighted from the moment you write it.  The easiest way, though this really isn't recommended, is to put a copy of the manuscript in an envelope and mail it to yourself; when you get it back put the postmarked envelope, unopened, in a secure place such as a safety deposit box.  Here's a better way to do it:
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

--- End quote ---

As I understand it, courts won't normally accept this as proof, as it can be faked. But it IS better than nothing.

Apocrypha:
I have found that sometimes the safest way is to just not tell anyone about what you're writing.   ;D

Mind you I've definately loosened up over the years but that impression started for me back in grade 3 when a teacher's aid edited my story all to crap and back.

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