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Get a Basic Understanding of a Copyright
What is a Copyright?
Learn the Differences Between Copyrights, Patents & Trademarks
How to Get a "Poor Man's" Copyright
Learn What is Protected Under Copyright Law
Learn What Cannot Be Protected Under Copyright Law
Why Register for a Copyright?
How to Register for a Copyright
How to Get a Copyright Application
How to Choose the Right Copyright Application Form
How to Fill Out a "TX" Copyright Application Form
How to Fill Out an "SR" Copyright Application Form
How to Send Your Documents to the Copyright Office
How to Register for a Copyright under a Pseudonym
Know When to Reapply for a Copyright
Copyrighting allows the material's author to retain the rights to re-publish, edit, alter, or otherwise ch… More
A skit or play that doesn't have any words, a standard calendar, tape measure and a ruler are all things t… More
Learn about how to register for a copyright, what information you'll need to have, where you can find an a… More
A "poor man's copyright" is basically just a copy of your original work that you mail to yourself, which i… More
The only time you have to reapply for a copyright is if the derivative of your work changes. Learn more in… More
Copyrighting a photograph requires that a fee be paid and an application be turned in to the Office of Cop… More
The best way to copyright music is to send in your album to the copyright office and either getting the wh… More
Like patents, trademarks are an important way for American innovators to maintain the competitive advantag… More
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the governing body for trademarks in the United S… More
Filing trademark registrations for business products is done with the Unites States Patent and Trademark o… More
A trademark is a type of intellectual property and usually comprises a name, and a logo or symbol. The pur… More
It hit you like a bolt of lightening, or maybe you've been working on this idea for years. The next and mo… More
Summary: A "poor man's copyright" is basically just a copy of your original work that you mail to yourself, which is used in case anyone ever questions your work's authenticity. Learn more in this free video series.
Nathan Boehme is a writer, director and editor who currently lives and works in Los Angeles. He has worked extensively as an independent filmmaker for more than 10 years, producing and...read more
"Hi, I'm Nathan Boehme writer and film director with Expert Village. In this series, it's all about copyrights. The whole purpose of getting a copyright is to create a paper trail that either a judge or a lawyer would be able to trace back to you in any unfortunate event that some jerk tries to capitalize off of your work. Now if for some reason you are either poor or just too lazy do yourself a proper copyright there is something called a "poor man's copyright" you can try if you like. Simply take a copy of your creative work whether it would be a poem, a song or just a really cool idea that you came up with in your sleep. Stuff it in an envelope then address that envelope to yourself stick a stamp on it and then send it off in the mail. After you receive that copy in the mail don't open it just stick it away in a file somewhere and wait for the day that someone tries to steal your work and you have to take them back to court. Sadly that poor man's copyright that you mailed yourself won't hold up in a court of law nearly as well as an actual register copyright would. But it never hurts to protect yourself any and every way you can."
eHow Article: How to Get a "Poor Man's" Copyright
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Comments
aaaamory said
on 1/29/2009 Hi Nathan. I'm curious what would happen if I took one of these envelopes to court as proof and the judge asks, "Can you prove the material was in that envelope on the day it was mailed?"
This method is very easy to fake, as it is possible to mail unsealed envelopes to oneself and then seal it with items created on a future date.
I'm also kind of curious why there seems to be a lack of information on cases where this method has worked for someone, a contrast to the general consensus that this method is effective, even though the copyright office itself has issued a statement in its website faq making no promises that it works.