Copyright

[Deek3870]

i am getting ready to write an ebook and was wondering about copyrights. Is their a low cost for ebooks? How do you go about obtaining the copyright? Thanks in advance warrior members!

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Copyright is secured upon creation of a work. Registration is not required.

However, registration will give you additional benefits, such as being able to recoup legal costs in a successful infringement suit.

If you file electronically, it's $35.

U.S. Copyright Office - Online Services (eCO: Electronic Copyright Office)

[expertcapper]

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

Copyright is secured upon creation of a work. Registration is not required.

However, registration will give you additional benefits, such as being able to recoup legal costs in a successful infringement suit.

If you file electronically, it's $35.

U.S. Copyright Office - Online Services (eCO: Electronic Copyright Office)

Is this good for canada and all other countries as well?

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by expertcapper

Is this good for canada and all other countries as well?

I'm not an expert on that, but it looks like it would be applicable if you live in a country that has a copyright treaty with the United States.

U.S. Copyright Office - Who Can Register? (FAQ)

There is a link on that page to Circular 38 which lists nations and their copyright relationships with the United States, as of March 2009.

[KEY]

before spending $$? you really should take a look at the copyright office's FAQ page
-> U.S. Copyright Office - What Does Copyright Protect? (FAQ)

*(while not universal...most countries have adopted pretty much the same rules and will generally honor other countries copyrights - though there are some discrepancies)

(taken from the site)

How do I protect my idea?
Copyright does not protect ideas, concepts, systems, or methods of doing something. You may express your ideas in writing or drawings and claim copyright in your description, but be aware that copyright will not protect the idea itself as revealed in your written or artistic work.

so in reality, most ebooks contain information that is NOT worth copyrighting! you would be able to copyright the ebook itself, and have protection and rights if someone were to take it and sell/present it (in substantial form) as their own...BUT any ideas, tricks, shortcuts, etc revealed within the text will not be protected.

KEY

[Lloyd Buchinski]

Originally Posted by expertcapper

Is this good for canada and all other countries as well?

It is where I do mine. The electronic version saves a lot of time and money for things like registered mail. There are a few details to watch out for. You need to do the copyright before you publish the work for example, including on a website. Spend a little time reading the faqs in case an unusual one applies to you.