Copyright protection does not protect mere ideas. Instead, the idea must be put into something tangible. If you created a song, for example, you must either record the song, write out the notes or lyrics to the song, or otherwise make the song exist somewhere other than in your mind for it to be eligible.
If you are identifying your copyright in a sound recording only, then use the letter P in the circle. The use of this notice was required to have copyright protection in the past. However, as of March 1, 1989, you are not required to provide notice on any type of work. Nevertheless, it is still a good idea from a legal standpoint to post a copyright notice. For example, it can deter others from plagiarizing your work.
If the work is unpublished, then you can use a notice that reads: “Unpublished work Copyright 2016 Jane Doe. ”
If you want your business to hold the copyright, then make sure you have properly formed the business. You may also need to complete a “Doing Business As” if you want to hold the copyright in your fictitious business name. With a phonorecord, the producer’s name will be considered part of the notice if the producer is named on the label or container and the notice contains no other name.
If you can’t affix the copyright notice to the work itself, then you can attach it to a tag that travels along with the article in commerce. If you are selling a motion picture or audiovisual work, then you can affix the notice on a permanent container. Copyright notice is most often found in the footer of a website, at the bottom of a piece of written music, or in the first few pages of a book. In a video, you may include a copyright notice in the credits or with the title.
For example, you could write “All Rights Reserved” if you don’t want to allow anyone to copy anything. For a Creative Commons License, you might want to include “Some Rights Reserved. ” To give all rights away, you could include “No Rights Reserved. ”
Registering electronically is faster than registering using a paper application. You also will pay a lower filing fee. As of 2016, you will pay only $35 to register a single application online. [8] X Trustworthy Source United States Copyright Office Part of the Library of Congress, responsible for maintaining copyright records Go to source You can pay with a credit card. You must submit “deposit copies” of your work with your application. You might be able to upload these copies as electronic files. Alternately, you might need to mail the deposit copies to the Copyright Office. Nevertheless, you still pay the lower online registration fee.
Form TX for literary works Form VA for visual arts works Form PA for performing arts works, including motion pictures Form SR for sound recordings Form SE for single serials
If you have any questions, then call the Copyright Office toll free at 1-877-476-0778 or at 202-707-3000. [10] X Trustworthy Source United States Copyright Office Part of the Library of Congress, responsible for maintaining copyright records Go to source
Include your fee, which is $85 for paper registrations. [12] X Trustworthy Source United States Copyright Office Part of the Library of Congress, responsible for maintaining copyright records Go to source Make your check or money order payable to “Register of Copyrights. ” Mail the entire packet to Library of Congress, U. S. Copyright Office, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559. [13] X Trustworthy Source United States Copyright Office Part of the Library of Congress, responsible for maintaining copyright records Go to source
