After writing a book, always take full advantage of the copyright laws and copyright your work of written art!
They say, many people that is, that once a writer writes something, then that something is actually and truly copywritten at that moment. Most writers respect this type of ownership although it isn’t technically documented as belonging to you. Because of this, there are those who will put this type of copyright to the test and lift your hard work in an attempt to pass it off as belonging to them. Two words for this are plagiarism and illegal.
Since we are on the topic, know that simple ideas nor titles are able to be copywritten, but the work or text itself is able to be copywritten. For instance, there are many titles with the same name, even songs titled the exact same thing. Titles can never be copywritten. Simple ideas can’t be copywritten either, and simple ideas mean very general topics like a novel about murders, abuse, or aliens. These are all general and simple ideas that a multitude of people can have. More complex ideas, however, can be copywritten, and an example of this more complex idea is taking someone’s entire story line and writing it for yourself. The story line is so similar that it is an obvious copycat crime, and no matter how the copycat feels the story is different, fans can always tell that copycat!
Some believe that it isn’t worth the hassle to copyright, and truly take a trust that no one would ever do that to me attitude. Not so. Lose it and find out. You work will soon become an easy cash cow or a way to make an A in English 101, and no credit nor payment will come your way at all. Bummer. Fact of the matter is that if someone steals your work after legally copywritten, well, they must pay up big money as it can and will be proven in court. Therefore, serious writers should always have their work copywritten.
How on earth do you get something copywritten? Glad you asked. Visit the Library Of Congress or just click here. The Short Form TX can get you started with the good old basic copyright for a book, but if you aren’t sure about what form to use for your particular type of ownership, your best bet is to read and choose. You can even give them a call. Click here to get the number.
There you have it. Don’t deny yourself the right to copyright. Words want to have a family, too, preferably, with your name on it.
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