How to Copyright Letters

Copyrighting letters

According to the U.S. Copyright Office, a copyright is a form of legal protection for literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works both published and non-published. Having a copyright gives the owner exclusive rights and privileges as it pertains to that particular work and it is illegal for anyone to violate these rights. Anyone wishing to use, duplicate or reproduce a copyrighted letter must first obtain permission from the owner of the copyright.

Instructions

How to Copyright Letters

1. Write or type letter(s). The author immediately takes ownership of that work and can claim the copyright. Copyright ownership is transferable, but must be done in writing and signed by the author or co-authors. If multiple authors contributed to the letter, all contributors may jointly claim ownership of the copyright.

2. Place a notice of copyright on your actual document using the symbol ©, the year of the first publication and the name of the copyright owner. (Example: © 2010 John Hancock or Unpublished Work © 2010 John Hancock) The symbol can be inserted using most word processing software or can be manually created by placing the letter C inside of a circle. The copyright notice is not mandatory to solidify a copyright, but many people still use this notice on their documents to discourage unauthorized usage, modification or reproduction.

3. Register your copyright by completing an application (Form TX for letters) and paying any fees associated with the filing process. Although not required, this step is recommended as it establishes a public record. Registration application and payments can be made online. Otherwise you can mail your form and payment directly to:

   Library of Congress
   U.S. Copyright Office
   101 Independence Avenue SE
   Washington, DC 20559-6222

Tips & Warnings

• Notice of copyright on the document and copy registration are not mandatory, but highly recommended for the protection of the owner of the copyright.

• Generally copyright protection lasts the duration of the author's life plus 70 years.

• Ownership of the actual letter does not equal ownership of the copyright. Unless copyright ownership is transferred from the author, no one else has legal rights and privileges to the copyright.

References

• Copyright Office: Copyright Basics

Resources

• Copyright.com: Copyright Basics