Copyright is a legal protection that gives the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution.
Copyright is one of the most important intellectual property laws. It provides authors with the right to be credited for their work, as well as the right to control how their work is used by others.
As the copyright holder, you have the exclusive right to use your work in any way you choose to make money.
You can also make money by granting others permission to publish or use your work in other ways (like a speaking engagement where they quote you).
Violations of copyright allow you to take action against whoever violated those rights. Copyright protects ownership of writings, images of artwork, not the book or painting itself. Purchase of your book does not give the purchaser the right to use your book in any way to make a profit.
What’s Protected by Copyright Law?
· Literary Works
· Music & lyrics
· Artwork
· Anything created by an artist or author
However, your book’s title is not protected by copyright in the US. You can trademark your title because the title is associated with an individual or company – it identifies the person or company with that trademarked title. Otherwise, just title your book and know others may use a similar title.
Copyright notice is not required, but you should mark your work anyway. If your work is marked, then no one can say they didn’t know your work was copyrighted. You don’t have to register your copyright, but it’s a good idea. It makes your registration searchable and you really need it if you have to claim infringement in a lawsuit. Just be aware that registration can be a slow process – still mark your work.
The length of time that a copyrighted work is protected varies from country to country, but generally lasts for at least 50 years after the death of its author.
To Copyright or Not? I say Copyright and protect yourself.
