How to Copyright a Book
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Follow these steps to register your book, manuscript, online work (websites), poetry, or other text. Be aware that under international copyright law you automatically own the copyright in any literary or creative work you make yourself. Registering your copyright makes it easier to prove you claim if your work is plagiarized.
Steps
- Make sure your work is a literary work. Literary works may be published or unpublished and include nondramatic textual works with or without illustrations. Computer programs and databases also are considered literary works.
- Decide where to registerThere are a number of specialist international copyright registration organizations, and most will store a copy of your work as evidence of your claim, and will be able to produce it as evidence to help prove your claim in the event of a copyright dispute.
- If you are a US citizen, you will need to register with the US Copyright Office (Library of Congress) before you are able to make a claim in a US court. Registration may also entitle you to statutory damages in a US court case.
- For registration outside the US, choose a reputable service or speak to your solicitor. The links below should help.
- If you are a US citizen, you will need to register with the US Copyright Office (Library of Congress) before you are able to make a claim in a US court. Registration may also entitle you to statutory damages in a US court case.
- Register your work - US citizens
- Obtain Form TX or Short Form TX (choose which form to use) from the Library of Congress.
- Fill out the application and post it along with a copy of your work and the registration fee.
- If your submission is in order, you should receive a certificate of registration in about 4 to 5 months.
- Obtain Form TX or Short Form TX (choose which form to use) from the Library of Congress.
- Register your work - Outside the US
- Historically, many people used to simply lodge copies with a solicitor, but these days there are a number of specialist services such as the UKCS that are cheaper and take better care of your work than a solicitor, and are generally much faster than a US registration.
- Historically, many people used to simply lodge copies with a solicitor, but these days there are a number of specialist services such as the UKCS that are cheaper and take better care of your work than a solicitor, and are generally much faster than a US registration.
Tips
- Re-check form prior to mailing, to make sure you have signed and dated it, and attached the check.
- Make a copy of the forms for safe keeping in case the original gets lost in the mail.
Warnings
- Registration deposits are normally non-returnable. Send a copy of your work, not the original.
- In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the British Library should also be sent a copy of any published book within one month of publication, (your publisher will normally take care of this for you).
References
Where to register copyright
Copyright advice
Alternatives to registration
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