Paula wants to know if anyone else has had experience with getting works copyrighted...
"I’m fidgeting around w/getting some works copyrighted and wondered if others had done so (I’m SURE they have...) and if they did it themselves or used an attorney, agent, etc?"
here's the scoop on copyrighting: http://www.copyright.gov/
I would recommend copyrighting work that you don't want to lose the rights to...like photos, articles or books that you have developed with lots of research time expended [and haven't yet published!] or just if you feel that you need that extra layer of legal protection. There is a charge, but IIRC, you can copyright multiple documents with each fee [or you used to be able to...]
You can definitely copyright works yourself. I have copyrighted several, and helped others to do so. There is an excellent book, published by Nolo Press, called The Copyright Handbook, which explains the process for all sorts of copyright situations.
The Nolo book may well be in your public library, although if you might copyright many different sorts of materials, then it could be cost effective to buy it in bound or download format.
Remember that you hold a copyright in any works you write, dating from the time you write them. Registration of the copyright makes that right enforceable. Registering soon after creation can help you because it may give you the option of requesting attorneys' fees against an infringer. Also, if you want to prove you were the first author of an idea, the registration helps establish that fact.
I'm a freelance writer in Phoenix, Arizona. I write for Phoenix Magazine, the Arizona Republic, South Mountain District News, Wrangler News and other local publications. I set up this blog to connect freelance writers around Arizona. It's called 60 Percenters because the corporate world often asks employees to "give 110 percent" to the company. We prefer to devote 60 percent of our lives to work, reserving the other 40 percent for important things such as family, friends and outside interests -- including taking catnaps, drinking wine and goofing off in general.
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here's the scoop on copyrighting: http://www.copyright.gov/
I would recommend copyrighting work that you don't want to lose the rights to...like photos, articles or books that you have developed with lots of research time expended [and haven't yet published!] or just if you feel that you need that extra layer of legal protection. There is a charge, but IIRC, you can copyright multiple documents with each fee [or you used to be able to...]
You can definitely copyright works yourself. I have copyrighted several, and helped others to do so. There is an excellent book, published by Nolo Press, called The Copyright Handbook, which explains the process for all sorts of copyright situations.
The Nolo book may well be in your public library, although if you might copyright many different sorts of materials, then it could be cost effective to buy it in bound or download format.
Remember that you hold a copyright in any works you write, dating from the time you write them. Registration of the copyright makes that right enforceable. Registering soon after creation can help you because it may give you the option of requesting attorneys' fees against an infringer. Also, if you want to prove you were the first author of an idea, the registration helps establish that fact.
Have fun!
Thanks for your comments - much appreciated!! I'll let you know how I fumble through this :)
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