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Anyone know anything about copyright?

by bigballin6161
6 replies
I am planning to make an ebook based on a concept, but I do not want to put all of the work in and find out I cannot do it because the concept is copyrighted. How does a person find out this info. How do you try to copywright something? Is it possible that a person can even try to take my product down saying that they have rights to it? I need someone who can help me with this. Thanks
#copyright
  • Profile picture of the author Ray Wilson
    Don't know much about copyright but I haven't cared much about it.

    If someone wants to steal your information, then he will be able to do it. You can do nothing about it.

    In most cases it's even better if someone takes your content and puts it on his site, if he left the links to your site. And if not, then who cares, because Google will penalize him.

    Put a small legal disclaimer in your ebook if you want, but I think that in general people are honest and won't steal your content, and then paste it on their website.

    -Ray
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Concepts cannot be copyrighted only original works can. If a concept could be copywrited there would only be a few hundred legitimate books in print.

    As long as you create something original you will hold the copyright automatically. If you want to actually register your copyright check out the US Library of Congress. They will accept your work and register it for a fee. Then you will have an official copyrighted book.
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  • Profile picture of the author EllesBelles
    You'll have to tell us what the concept is, and then we'll be able to tell you if its copyrighted. Or at least give you a good idea.

    You need to find out beforehand, because if you write it, you could lose a lot of work. You could also lose a lot of money, if there is copyright and you were taken to court.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Originally Posted by EllesBelles View Post

      You'll have to tell us what the concept is, and then we'll be able to tell you if its copyrighted. Or at least give you a good idea.

      You need to find out beforehand, because if you write it, you could lose a lot of work. You could also lose a lot of money, if there is copyright and you were taken to court.
      No. You don't have to tell us anything.

      As stated previously, by "travlinguy"... concepts cannot be copyrighted.

      As long as it is an original work (i.e. your words - not copy/paste), you automatically have copyright. You can register that copyright with the Library of Congress, if you like.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kim Standerline
    I think I'll copyright the "concept" of the Internet, then no one else can use it then

    Kim
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  • Profile picture of the author norrimac
    This is right, you can't copyright a 'concept'.

    HOWEVER! You CAN copyright your original writings, spreadsheets, audio files, video that describe your proposed eBook. This will prove that you at least were working on the 'concept' at a given time.

    This does NOT mean that you can lay claim to the 'concept' thru copyright, but you can at least prove that you copyrighted YOUR eBook text when you said you did.

    That way, if you're reticent about telling others what you're working on for fear of Intellectual Property/copyright theft, you may be able to prove (if you have a witness to your copyright, of course) that YOU initiated the converstaions and copyrighted your texts etc prior to that conversation.

    I'm not a lawyer but I work in this field. Send me a PM and I'll tell you more if you like.
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