Posted by M Arthur Auslander on December 29, 1998 at 04:05:56:
In Reply to: how to copywright a letter posted by lashun watkins on December 29, 1998 at 01:32:22:
: I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO COPYWRIGHT A LETTER
: AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE.
The copyright law protects the work from the moment of creation. There is a 100 year period in which to register a copyright. The registration of the copyright enables the enforcement of the copyright. There are two types of copyrights. Published and unpublished. What is protected is the mode of expression, not the ideas contained in the work. For infringement the infringer must have access in order to be liable. The mailing of a letter to a particular is not a publication nor does it deprive the author of the rights under the law.
Do you really want to copyright a letter? The official filing fee is only $20. A lawyer gets paid for the insight and advice as well as the time. Copyright is one of the best bargains in the law. A copyright is good for life plus 70 years, just raised from 50. Patents are good for 20 years from the date of filing. Trademarks are good forever as long as they are used but a registered trademark must be acted upon within the first 6 years and must be renewed every 10 years.
M. Arthur Auslander
Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law
505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com
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