How to make stealing of your digital property illegal?

[MemberWing]

Big media companies makes copying and sharing of their content illegal.

So I wonder what is involved into making the act of sharing your digital property illegal and enforceable in the same fashion?

Carefully crafted TOS?

I am talking about property that people have to buy to access (premium books, premium movies), not something that is available for free.

Gleb

[Andyhenry]

Anything you provide or publish is protected by law. This is why you can't just rip off other peoples stuff from their sites. It's the reason people go to places like Ezinearticles for content - because they require that publishers allow it to be reprinted.

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by MemberWing

How to make stealing of your digital property illegal?

It already IS illegal.

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by MemberWing

So I wonder what is involved into making the act of sharing your digital property illegal and enforceable in the same fashion?

As Andy alluded to, the mere act of you creating and publishing it makes it protected by copyright law. It happens automatically. You don't have to do anything.

That said, actually registering your copyright makes enforcement far, far easier (to the point of become an open-and-shut case). In this regard, since they appear to be the only one that requires an actual copy of your publication along with your registration application, the U.S. Copyright Office is your best bet. You don't have to be from the U.S.; they will accept applications just about anywhere in the world. And, crucially, just about every Court on the planet will recognise the legitimacy of the registration.

Regards,
Tommy.

[jacktackett]

Gleb,
as Thomas and Andy have said - once created you're protected. But by having your work registered it does make it easier to enforce your rights and also collect on damages (but good luck on that - many people have won judgments, but failed to collect).

However, I still recommend spending the $35 bucks on registration; which is less than most folks will spend on an ebook graphic or freelance contect!

And you can now do everything online - For more information see:

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

good luck,
--Jack

[Kael41]

As said before, it's already illegal. But that won't stop others from purchasing and distributing your work. It will come down to a cost/benefit analysis of whether you want to pursue those who sidetrack your payment options. I've had a bunch of potential clients come to back in the day for legal representation, but when i told them how much it cost and how long it would take (time out from work, etc), they balked at the idea of going forward because the remedy would have been less than the cost to prosecute.

David

[soco]

This the first article I have read on here and it is a question I have wondered about the last couple of months.My boyfriend designed my blog as a gift but I have written the articles so in case we break up - all article have me as the author. Sorry, I don't mean to make this a Dear Abby thing. I have spent over a year on my blog.I know small potatoes but he is in to the bigger stuff more then I am - my blog has a custom made design with content - I take it he could sell it.
Thank you-

[MemberWing]

Thanks guys for the insightful answers.
I am developing the software that solves a problem of tracking the person *who* actually stole and illegally distributed your digital content.

I was just wondering about legal aspect supporting this infrastructure.

Gleb