Protecting your creations in the digital age
On the web, content is everywhere; consumed and created by anyone with a notion to read or write. Content is so ubiquitous, in fact, that to some it seems valueless—practically free for the taking. But take heart, internet authors, for your creations are, in most instances, protected by copyright law. The best part? You’re probably protected already.
The moment you put pen to paper—pixel to screen, perhaps—and affix your creative thoughts in a tangible form that is perceptible directly, or with the aid of a machine or device, you are protected. Whether or not you registered your material officially with the U.S. Copyright Office (for you Americans out there) matters not a whit; you’re protected just the same. Of course, officially registering your copyright is a good idea; it might help if you ever become involved in a legal dispute. Happily, in the United States, registering your copyright is a simple three part process: you fill out a form, you provide a copy of your work, and you pay a small fee.
Even if you don’t register your copyright, you can still include a copyright notice on your creation. For copies of visually perceptible creations, a copyright notice should contain the following three elements: the familiar “circle-c” symbol or the word “Copyright”; the year in which the work was first published; and the name of the copyright owner. The following, for example, is a proper copyright notice: “Copyright 2008 Joe Jones.” But remember, your copyright is good even if you don’t include a statement of copyright expressly on your creation. Best of all, your copyright gives you a measure of immortality. For works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protections last for 70 years after you shuffle off your mortal coil.
Generally speaking, you can copyright most anything that involves a tangible form of expression. Works of literature, music, drama, motion pictures are all copyrightable, but so are things like computer programs, maps, and architectural plans. But not everything is copyrightable. You can’t, for example, copyright titles, names, short phrases, or slogans—nor can you copyright forms of expression that haven’t been notated or recorded. So the next time you make that brilliant off-the-cuff speech, make sure someone records it for you—or make sure you have a stenographer on hand.
By Robert Pothier
