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How to get a book copyrighted...
To kind of sum this up, I'm doing a school project and I'm creating a book about the relationship between a little girl and her dying grandfather. It's a childrens book, about 25 pages, 3-4 sentences a page, illustrations, etc. I've decided to donate about 5-10 copies to the clinic where this man goes (he has a disease that's killing him). My mom said I should probably get it copyrighted, just in case someone would be cruel enough to steal it. It's a really good book and we're actually hoping to get it published. In the mean time I think it is a good idea to get it copyrighted for safety reasons.
My question is how do I go about doing this? Who do I contact? Does it have to be published and a published has to copyright it? Do I contact someone and they do it, if so, who?
Pretty much, if you have ever had anything copyrighted, a website, a book, anything whatsoever.. who do I contact and how do I go about it.
I'm 17/f but my parents can help me do this if I'm too young or something.
Thanks in advance!
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: School?
anything you do is copyrighted- anything you post online, you turn in to your teacher, et cetera. this means that your work is automatically protected, so that somebody can't steal it. copyright isn't like a patent, where you have to apply for it and all this stuff. all you have to do is put on the inside cover "copyright 2007 your name" and you will be good. actually, you don't even have to do that. if somebody recreates your work or steals it, you can take them to court no matter if you put a copyright logo in your book or not. don't worry, any work you do is automatically copyrighted, and if somebody infringes upon that, you can take them down with no problems :)
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Fundamentally, your work is already protected by copyright. You've produced it and you own it.
This excerpt is taken from the American Library of Congress, Copyright Office:
"Copyright is secured automatically when the work is created, and a work is â??createdâ?? when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time. 'Copies' are material objects from which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or with the aid of a machine or device, such as books, manuscripts, sheet music, film, videotape, or microfilm."
Frankly, there is simply NOT enough money in printed books for any publisher to bother stealing your book. It just doesn't happen. Individuals might try to misrepresent and say they produced your work, but that is very easy to block legally, even without registering.
The simplest way to prove that you created the work is to send a copy of it to yourself in the mail and do not open the sealed packaged. This will present proof, should you ever need it, that the work existed and was in your possession at a set date.
If you really want to register it with the government (and you live in the united states) most of your questions will be answered on this web page: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
To register your copyright will cost $45.
If you live in another country, youâ??ll need to contact the government office that deals with copyright registration.
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I just feel the need to add this:
You CANNOT get attorney fees, damages, or sue for copyright infringement unless you register with the government. You'll still be able to block someone from claiming your work, but canâ??t sue them unless you are registered (even then, those damages are only good for like, a year after the date of registration and you have to prove that you have lost money somehow by them claiming your work as thier own.)
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Yes copyrighting would be the best idea. Your mom is right, there are people who are low enough to steal a children's story as their own.
There is so much info on it, I don't know exactly what you need from it, so go to this link and read up on it:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
ygs-29/f
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After you make it it is automatically copyrighted. You do not need to do anything. You don't need to publish it or show it to anyone, though you're more likely to win a case if you do. You do not need to register it. You can put "© 2007 You" on it if you want, but you don't have to.
If someone reproduces your work, you can immediately take them to court for copyright infringement. You get damages, legal fees, and then some.
See copyright.gov and other sources around the web for more info.
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