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Copyright is a form of protection, enacted by most governments, that gives the creator of an original work (including literary, artistic, dramatic, musical, and most other intellectual works) exclusive rights to it.

Authors should know that the moment your work is created, it is secured by copyright. No registration or other action is required to secure copyright. In other words, the moment you write it, you own exclusive rights to it (copyright).

Having said that, it is often recommended that you officially register your copyright for added protection and security. Registration produces a public record of your copyright and will also establish prima facie evidence in court, should copyright infringement arise. Statutory damages and attorney's fees will be available to the copyright owner in court actions.

Not everyone can afford to register the copyright for every literary piece they create. In this case, many people suggest using the "Poor man's copyright". This is a strategy that consists of mailing yourself a copy of your work by registered mail, using the postmark to establish the date. Although this is not  binding like a legal copyright registration, it may be the next best thing (especially for countries with no central copyright registration authority). Mailing yourself a copy of your work will allow you to have an actual date attached to your work, however, you must make sure the envelope stays sealed.

Please Note: Use of the "Poor Man's Copyright" method may not hold up in a court as it is simple for individuals to pre-send envelopes which can then be used later by placing the actual materials inside. Use of this method is not recommended.

United States Copyright Office here:
http://www.copyright.gov/

UK Intellectual Property Office here:
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/

Canadian Intellectual Property Office:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/cp/cp_main-e.html

Copyright procedures may be different in other countries. Please contact your national copyright office for more information.

[Galahadcj]

This is a GREAT article--It took me a long time to learn all these tricks before computers we here!!!!--The mailing copyright is called "A Poor man's Copyright" and it can be binding--Just remember NOT to open the package with the postmark or it renders the action void!!!--If the envelop is seal with the work inside, with the post date on the envelop (usually a large manilla envelop) that is all the evidence you need to prove the work is yours--This is ay very informative article!!!--GOOD job--Cliff...galahadcj

[mortalking]

Thanks for the good information , i was searching for this info for a long time..........

[danielle]

Thank you so much for providing this information. I've been looking all over for it and it was right under my nose the whole time.

Very helpful!

[Galahadcj]

[I am delighted that you incorporated my info about a poor man's copyright into your article, but you made one small error:  The package mailed to yourself containing your own work does not need to be registered mail--Registered mail is good....but NOT NECESSARY as it is MORE EXPENSIVE!!!!--I mailed my own work to myself via 4th class mail which is cheaper, but it takes a little longer....sometimes....not always--And what do you care how long it takes, as long as you have an official United States postmark with the date on it--All United States postmarks are dated--The cheaper, the better...as it is called a "poor man's copyright"--Usually any copyright isn't necessary, but it is always better to be safe rather than sorry!!!--4TH class postage is all that is ever necessary....just remember not to open it, because if the seal is broken it is no longer valid....and a poor man's copyright will hold up in a court of law----Cliff--galahadcj--PS...before I mailed my manuscript to a publisher, I always first mail myself a copy ,  just to be safe--The publisher DID publish my book, but I had myself covered in case of any other complications--That usually isn't necessary, but still...one does hear stories--LOL--/b]

[support]

I prefer not to stress this method very much because it is not binding and may not be admissible in a court of law. If your country has a Copyright / Intellectual Property Office, you should register your copyrights with them. This method should only be considered if registration is absolutely impossible.

[Chrissy]

so let me get this straight this site alone can;t copyright waht we out on her eonly whqatw e copy right ourselves????

[support]

The moment you create your writing, it is secured by copyright. If you would like to have proof of your copyright, which is admissible in court should copyright infringement arise, you can register your copyright with the Copyright / IP Office in your country:

"In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. However, registration is not a condition of copyright protection. Even though registration is not a requirement for protection, the copyright law provides several inducements or advantages to encourage copyright owners to make registration."

Publishing your writing on this site, or any other one for that matter, does not register your copyright:

"Publication is no longer the key to obtaining federal copyright as it was under the Copyright Act of 1909. However, publication remains important to copyright owners...."

http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.pdf

[shae]

If you have posted something on a different site and it is copy righted by them can you still post it on this site?

[bianca]

Posting your writing on a site does not mean that the site now has copyrights to your writing (if that is the case, you should NOT post your writing on that site). When you post your writing on Writers-Network.com, you keep all copyrights to your work. This is the case for most websites.

When you create a piece of work, you instantly hold the copyrights to it, therefore, you may post/publish/showcase it anywhere you like. The only time this doesn't apply is if you have sold/published your writing and you agreed to relinquish your copyrights to the work. Once you've given up your copyright to a piece of writing, you can not sell or submit that writing again, unless you get express approval from the publisher that now owns the copyright.

So to answer you question, you may post your writing anywhere you like, including here, unless you have relinquished your copyrights.

[shae]

I know i haven't done that but i just wanted to make sure i understood before doing that. thank you.

[Truly247]

There is a site that may be worth looking into called myfreecopyright.com that may provide the author with added copyright protection.

~Truly