Copyright

[~Vulpine~]

Can I put the � symbol on my work even though I cannot afford real copyright, as away to deter potential thieves? What I mean is, is it against the law to put � without paying for it? (I'm an author, if that helps.)

xXx

[Ethel]

I don't see why not - copyright automatically belongs to the author or the employer and there is no obligation to register it.

You are fully enttiled to use the copyright symbol followed by your name and the date. To be able to enforce the copyright you would need to date and sign the original and lodge it with your solicitor, bank or similar official.

Where do you intend to publish your works?

Do not confuse copyright with patent.

[~Vulpine~]

I'm hoping to sell little short stories over the Internet, or on the street.

[Ethel]

I wish you well, but beware of selling in ebook form. Far too easy to copy and sell on - if big companies can't stop it, you have no chance.

People seem to think that because they CAN copy books, information, music, film, tv then no law is going to stop them.

[Gmcd01]

As Ethel correctly points out, to copyright something that you have created as an original piece and sole author is actually your legal right.
Copyright is free, and the best way I advise people to retain a record of the piece's creation is to duplicate a copy and post it to yourself. Generally, a frank on the letter details the date of posting- just don't open it.

[tufty7]

Who actually owns the "c" symbol and is it copyrite???

[Gmcd01]

An entertaining question Tufty! The (c) is not a copyrightable object as it lacks originality and does not fall into a recognised catergory under the Copyright, D&P Act (CDPA). Thus, it has no copyright and therefore no owner.

[~Vulpine~]

Dibs!! :L

[WaldoMcFroog]

Posting a franked copy of a work to yourself isn't generally considered to have much legal weight. Better to do what Ethel suggests and send it to a soliticor or a bank.

[Gmcd01]

It may well carry more legal weight, but from the perspective of s small vendor, I simply considered that involving 3rd parties is an unnecessary complication. There are relatively few cases of direct (c) theft in stories, and any such theft would logically come from one of Vulpine's publications, in which case [s]he would have an original copy that would serve as far better proof than any posted item. :-)

[~Vulpine~]

Thanks! :)

xXx