Posted by M. Arthur Auslander on February 04, 1999 at 04:13:26:
In Reply to: Copywriting Anything posted by Kelli on February 03, 1999 at 09:26:38:
: I would like to know, how to Copywrite anything. Whether it be a document, poem, song, or book. If anyone could get back to me on this, it would be much appreciated!
: Thanks!!! ;)
Under the law a created "work" is protected under the copyright statute from the moment of creation. The copyright protects the creative expression in the work, not the ideas contained in it. Copyright registration enable the enforcement of rights. The copyright is good for life plus 70 years. An application must be filed within 100 years of the creation of the work. There are two types of copyright registrations, published and unpublished. Enforcement is based on copying. Proof of copying is based on access to the work. Unpublished copyrights are usually of limit value since there is usually only a limit number of exposures of an umpublished work. Proof of access can be very dificult. Exact copying of large position of a work usually look like infringment of published and unpublished works.
Getting works published is usually the hardest part of creating.
The Copyright Office webpage is http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/cpyintro.html. Forms can be obtained there too. I believe the telphone number is 202-707-9100.
As simple as it looks and as inexpensive as it is, the law and proceedure can be very complex.
Two artists sitting on the same spot painting the same scene are each entitled to register and enforce different copyrights even if the works are identical. If one artist sits back and copies the work of the other, the copier is an infringer.
M. Arthur Auslander
Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909
505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com
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