How Do I Get My Work Copyrighted?
Any artist, whether a writer, composer or painter, needs copyright protection to prevent other people from profiting from her work. A copyright asserts that only the creator of that work has the right to reproduce it in any form. Anyone who wishes to use your work must ask your permission prior to doing so, otherwise they violate copyright laws.
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Instructions
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Produce your work in a tangible form. This could be on a word processor, a canvas or an audio recording. Once the work is in a tangible form, it is automatically granted copyright protection under the law.
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Register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office. While this is not required to hold the copyright, your work needs to be registered if you wish to seek monetary damages from a copyright violator. You can access the appropriate forms by accessing the copyright office website and selecting "forms."
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Register with a paper form instead of applying online. Some registrations can only be completed with a paper form. These include the registration of boat hull designs, copyright renewals and registration of works that are attributed to a group instead of an individual. You can print these forms on the Copyright Office website by clicking on "Forms." Once you have completed the forms, simply mail them in, along with a check for the appropriate fee.
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Tips & Warnings
A common misconception is that you can mail your work to yourself to create a "Poor Man's Copyright." This is not correct, and does not provide the same protections as registration.
Certain fees may apply to the registration process. The specific fee will vary based on the what you register and the method you use. As of 2011, the basic fee is $35 for online registration.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
