Copyright question

How does an individual go about copyrighting material to make sure it's protected? I figure someone around here can help me.

 

Duh!


http://www.copyright.gov/

 

Thanks, jackass. That was quite helpful.

 

I realize you're having a tough night, pall.

 

NO BASEBALL TALK ON THIS THREAD.

Please?

 

Does that ban me from the thread because of my handle?

 

Yes it does.

 

Pallister--That link is really all you need, but the bottom line is, if you 'create' something in a format that can be read or sold or distributed, it's already copyrighted. Print out your work, you're done. Seriously,it's that basic.

 

OK, that's what he was thinking, but if you print it out, there's not a date on it, you know?

So let's say he publishes something on his site. Someone sees it, sends it to a friend who sends it to a friend who sends it to a friend who turns it into a No. 1 song. How can pall prove that he wrote it before that guy? I mean, he could claim he wrote it years ago and it was just sitting around.

I just want to make sure he doesn't get screwed, you know?

 

a tactic some writers use is to mail themselves a copy that goes unopened, with a postmark on it. i don't know case law on it, though.

 

registered mail. they will postmark it along all the seals, so you prove it existed on that date. you RM it to yourself and immediately pick it up (it doesn't have to actually go in the mail -- if your local postperson says it does, they're lying or uninformed). done it many times.