Copyright

[mizarchivist]

We've gotten (one) request for 7,300 copies of the booklet I edited. We need to get this thing under copyright. A few here and there- not a big deal. over 7k in one shot? Big deal. If anyone's published stuff and wants to talk to me about it, lemme know.

7300!!!! Just sayin'.

Comments

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

It is automatically covered under copyright - or did you mean a registered copyright?

[mizarchivist]

I'm thinking registered at this point, given the distribution.

[beah.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how you get an ISBN #, but it's not too terribly complicated to get the copyright after that. There's just a form you have to fill out, if I recall...

Also, ROCK ON! This is a very cool accomplishment.

[beowabbit]

Pursuant to the Berne Copyright Convention (which the US and most industrialized nations are party to), copyright is automatic when a work (sufficiently original to be subject to copyright) is created. However, there are additional statutory damages you can sue an infringer for if you have registered copyright in the US. There’s more information (including fees for and advantages of registering) at http://www.copyright.gov/ . The “Basics of Copyright” circular is a good place to start if you want more background information.

If your main concern is being cited properly and not having your work appropriated, adding a little bit of text to the brochure giving your terms for use or redistribution might be useful. (E.g., something like "Permission is granted to reproduce this flyer in small numbers for nonprofit educational, research, or charitable use; for all other uses, please contact [you] at [your address].” if that’s what your and/or your organization’s wishes are.)

And congratulations!

[drwex]

Congrats. As others have noted it's already copyrighted. Registering the copyright won't really help you since the odds you'd ever sue anyone are infinitesimal and you're not selling it anyway.

That said, you do want to put the proper copyright notice on it. The form is
"Copyright © $YEARS $OWNER"

where the word Copyright has to be spelled out, the copy symbol needs to be used (no approximations like (c) count) and years are the first year of copyright and every year thereafter in which you change or update the publication.

Owner is slightly trickier as you may not be the owner; rather, your employer is. In the computer biz we all sign employment agreements that assign ownership of intellectual property to our employers explicitly. I doubt you had to sign such a thing but there's also implicit assignment since it's a work produced in relation to your duties, while on company-paid time and using company equipment.

Again, since you're not selling the thing it's probably not a big deal but in the event you write a copyright line you want to make sure the owner is properly identified and that your name as author appears prominently and separately from the copyright line.

One more time: MAZAL TOV! This is truly awesome and I'm sorry to write so much boring details.

[mizarchivist]

ok, the only thing I'm missing is spelling out "copyright"- the rest I have. Excellent. and thanks

[jay-duck.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about copyright, but hey, 7300 copies? Go you!

[mizarchivist]

Yeah- I'm a bit in shock. I think we all are, but wooooot!

[kebbykate.livejournal.com]

You are a powerful woman...I hear you roar!