Copyrighting - How should I work this?

8 replies
Hi I just need some advice if possible.

Over the past few months I have being writing articles that are soon to be uploaded to my website. The site will consist of both that written work and a few pictures I created myself. The content is about fifty thousand words give or take and there will be about 20 pictures accompanying it; I am only concerned about protecting the written work.

Can someone please tell me what is the cheapest method of "owning" the written material so if it should be copied and pasted I may report it and have it removed from Google?

Tricky part - I myself also intend on putting some of the aforementioned content under 1-page domains, will this however confuse Google into thinking the content is not original as it will be existing on another website and drop the ranking (even though they will be both on my same hosting account).

Thanks, I have tried researching this but I need answers specific to my case.
Any replies appreciated.
#copyrighting #work
  • Profile picture of the author Lloyd Buchinski
    You can file a copyright electronically. It's the cheapest and quickest way to do it. About $35, and you can just upload the material. The one restriction that sticks in my mind is that it can't be published yet when you file it.

    Just go to the copyright site, and look for the electronic link. I can't remember what the limit of material is, but that is probably in the faqs.

    It's a good move.
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    • Profile picture of the author FredJones
      About the Google part - why try to sell the same content twice? There's no guarantee which one Google will think to be original if you roll them out simultaneously.

      Rather, you could take the 1-page domains and point to the source of the article also (in addition to adding the article there). That way, the syndication remains clear.

      Or, you could simply rewrite the articles and then upload to the 1-page domains. That way, these remain original.
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    • Profile picture of the author Byron2k12
      Originally Posted by Lloyd Buchinski View Post

      You can file a copyright electronically. It's the cheapest and quickest way to do it. About $35, and you can just upload the material. The one restriction that sticks in my mind is that it can't be published yet when you file it.

      Just go to the copyright site, and look for the electronic link. I can't remember what the limit of material is, but that is probably in the faqs.

      It's a good move.

      That's very cheap, thanks to all replies.
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      • Profile picture of the author DMCAPROS
        You don't need to pay any fees for copyright, as soon as you add it to your website the copyright becomes valid.
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        • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
          Originally Posted by DMCAPROS View Post

          You don't need to pay any fees for copyright, as soon as you add it to your website the copyright becomes valid.
          Actually, the copyright exists the moment the articles are in fixed form. If they are already written, then they are copyrighted. They don't need to be on a website for the copyright to become valid.

          HOWEVER...if you want a registered copyright, then it is only $35 to file with the U.S. Copyright Office. There is a slight learning curve, but once you get it, it's very easy.

          You don't have to register unless you think you may have to sue for damage at some point. This happens, but more often than not, a DMCA notice will get the infringement to stop.

          While it can happen, I wouldn't spend an undue amount of time worrying about it. Just get it out there!

          All the best,
          Michael
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          "Ich bin en fuego!"
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    A piece of work is copyrighted the moment it is created. It doesn't need to be registered as such but it could help in proving you as the original creator if you are that worried about things.

    I'm not so sure about using your same content twice, especially if the sites are owned by the same person. But if you do then make sure you do not upload any of the content on to other sites UNTIL it has been properly indexed by Google on your main site. That way Google will see you as the 'owner' and 'creator' of that content.

    Content gets copied and syndicated around the Internet all the time. Just take a look at all the news sites out there. Maybe instead of trying to fight things you could look at ways of using this syndication to your advantage - much like a lot of article sites have. Maybe you could allow the syndication of your content provided they include a resources box back to your site.
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  • Profile picture of the author DMCAPROS
    You do not need to file for a copyright, as soon as you post it on your website it becomes your own copyrighted material, as WillR just said.
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  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    As others have said, you own the copyright the moment you create the document, but you need to have it registerd with the copyright office if you ever need to take action.

    Also put all three...
    ©
    the year
    and the name of the copyright holder.

    I am not an attorney, but I seem to remember my favorite attorney mumbling something to me about how missing one of the three can limit damages you can collect.

    :-Don
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