Advice On Copyrighting Info Products

Copyright exists automatically, the moment you've created the product.

The discussion is really about "proof of copyright" or "registration of copyright", rather than "copyright" itself. Registering your already-existing copyright can enable you to prove it, later. Each country has an official/governmental "copyright office" of some kind, where you can lodge a copy of whatever-it-is in exchange for a certificate which you can then use (if the need ever arises) as proof of copyright. In the US I think it costs about $30 or whatever (I could have that wrong - I haven't checked the price). Other countries have equivalents.

There are other ways of establishing copyright, as well, but that one's commonly used and well-recognized.

(It is a vast topic. There can still be other disputes arising about copyright, of course: it's a really complicated subject, and this isn't legal advice and I'm not a lawyer, but you certainly don't need a $4,000 service to establish/prove copyright - this much I do know!).

In the case of digital products (PDF books, and so on), registering the copyright may well not dissuade people from stealing it, anyway.

Read this page, if you want more: http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

Intellectual property is actually covered by copyright when it is created.

Some owners decide to file with the copyright office before they distribute their material which you can do for a fee.

I would think you would also want to put a notice of copyright on any website that distributed your content.

In addition, you can put a notice of copyright on the videos themselves.

Don't fall for the "pay to put your stuff on my website" offer.

Steve

I can't imagine why they'd be charging $4000 unless it's for some turbo charged hosting program that incidentally includes some kind of intellectual property protection.

If you're in the US and want an "official" copyright then go here: U.S. Copyright Office

As Alexa said, your work is automatically protected immediately. Even so, some people choose to make it official by registering with the Library of Congress.

There's another way to do it as well. It's sometimes called the poor man's copyright.

Take the material you want to copyright (print, digital, whatever) and mail it to yourself via certified mail. Once you receive it you have a dated record of your copyrighted work. Don't open the envelope. As long as it's sealed you have a stamped and dated record of your work. The only time you'd ever want to open it would be if someone challenged you being the author.

Thank you very much guys. You have out my mind at ease regarding the 4k quote!

Is there a stock copyright copy you use?

Also is it copyrighted to myself as an individual or my company?

Thanks all