Do eBooks Need to Be Registered?
Writing and publishing an eBook is similar in many ways to traditional brick and mortar publishing. Whether or not an eBook needs to be registered with the Copyright Office will be determined by the type of license that the author chooses for it.
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Copyright Registration
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If you want to copyright your eBook, it will need to be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. The Copyright Office will allow you to register an eBook online using its secure web site. Copyright registration guarantees the author's full legal right to the eBook and is necessary before you can sue for copyright infringement.
Requirements
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To get it registered with the Copyright Office, an eBook must meet certain requirements. According to Joyce Miller of Integrated Writer Services, an eBook must be an original work displaying a minimum amount of creativity.
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Cost
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Registering an eBook can be done in several ways at different costs. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, registering an eBook on-line costs $35. Paper registration using a bar code costs $50 and paper registration without bar codes costs $65. The higher cost reflects the fact that paper registration requires greater handling.
ISBN Registration
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If you plan to sell an eBook on platforms such as Amazon.com or Lulu, you will need to get an International Standard Book Number. According to Bowker U.S ISBN Agency, you can register your eBook online through its secure web site and get the ISBN right away.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit copyright image by Angie Lingnau from Fotolia.com
