Copyright Resources
Copyright
Resources - Get The Facts!
In the United States and most other countries, a work is automatically
protected as soon as it is created. It is not required that you register
your work or even provide notice. So why "waste" your time
and money registering for something you already
have? There are some very compelling reasons... (1) Ability to sue
Even though protection is automatic, you cannot actually sue
for infringement unless you have registered your work
with the Copyright Office. You can, however, register after infringement
as long as it is before filing suit. In this instance you would be eligible
to sue for "Actual Damages" (damages that you can demonstrate having
actually suffered), which may or may not be significant. (2) Statutory damages.
If you register prior to the date of infringement, you can collect "Statutory
Damages" and attorney fees. Statutory Damages are defined in the statute
and determined by the judge; and depending on the situation could be
quite substantial. A copyright notice is a simple and free way to post notification
that your work is protected under the law. In a lawsuit litigation
this notice will keep an infringer from claiming "innocent infringement".
Innocent infringement simply means the infringer had no reason to believe
their acts constituted infringement. Whether you actually register your work
or not, this notice should be on all of your published
work. A proper notice consists of three things:
1) The "copyright symbol"(©) or the word "Copyright," or the abbreviation
"Copr."; 2) the year of first publication; 3) the name of the
owner. Example: © 2002 eBook Crossroads Items that are not protected are ideas, titles, names, facts
and short phrases. Download form "TX" from the Library of Congress website at
http://www.copyright.gov/register/literary.html. Print form on
white, letter-sized paper. To fill in the form, type or print using black ink. Fill in the
title block with the title of your work, only. Fill in the rest
of the form completely and simply. In one envelope, place your completed form, a $30 check for
application fee (made out to "Register of Copyrights"), and one
copy of work to be registered (if unpublished) or two copies
(if published). Copies will not be returned. Submit complete registration package to: Your registration becomes effective on the day that the Copyright Office
receives your application, payment, and copy(ies). If your
application is in order, you will receive a certificate of registration
in 4 to 5 months.
10 Big Myths About Copyright
Brint Institute
NOLO Law For All
Chilling Effects
Website Protection Center
iCopyright.com
Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society
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