Copyright in the Work You Create

During a writers' conference workshop sponsored by Friends of Elk Grove Library, Renee Morgan-Hampton, a litigation paralegal and author of Misrepresented, talked about getting a copyright in your work.   

Did you know that the moment you start writing your novel you have a copyright in the work you create?  © All Rights Reserved.

The Copyright Act says:  "Copyright inheres in a work at the moment of its creation."

And the copyright is valid until 70 years after a creator's death.

You can register your work with the Copyright Office in Washington, D.C.

If you do so within 90 days of publication of your work, or prior to the actual infringement of your work, you get:

1.  Statutory damages
2.  Attorneys fees.

Download a Form TX from the Copyright Office Website and send it in, together with 1 copy of your unpublished manuscript and a check for $45.

You may wonder why you should get a copyright in your work if it is already protected.

Well, you may need protection from other writers.

Agents and publishers know about Copyright laws, so they certainly won't steal your work.  Actually,  if you're lucky and you become their client, they will take care of the copyrighting for you--and pay for it, too.

It's other writers who may steal your work.

For instance, when I entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards and made it to the Semifinals, my first two chapters were put on Amazon.com for all the world to see.  I have allowed access to my novel and it is now possible for another writer to steal at least part of it.

Copyright protects "original works of authorship," in that it originates with you.  But remember, it protects the expression of an idea, not the idea itself.

If you believe your work has been stolen, you must prove:

1.  Access
2.  Substantial similarity

And if you win, the Copyright Act has some extraordinary remedies.  Renee as a litigation paralegal has accompanied US Marshals on "seizure raids," and says they are quite dramatic (drawn weapons and all).

Oh, and you may notice that I have a my free copyright registered and protected badge on my blog.  Learn more about this free copyright service at myfreecopyright.  

If you want a free copyright resource for your blog, this is one way to go. 

Under frequently asked questions, they explain:

MyFreeCopyright.com provides a third-party, non-repudiation, registered dating of your original digital creation. By using this service, you publicly associate your digital copyright and defined rights to you.

So if you don't want to take any chances with your creative work, get moving.