As a writer, you know that there's a business side to your craft, especially if your intent is to sell your work. Knowing the basics of copyright laws can help you protect your own interests before signing your rights away, and fortunately it's not a terribly complex subject. In fact, copyrighting your creative work simply couldn't be easier. Whether it's a poem printed on paper or posted on the Internet, your work is automatically protected by copyright as long as it's in a physical form that others can read. The fact that you are reading these words means that this material is copyrighted and has been since the moment it was printed or saved to disk. It's as simple as that. For today's creative writers, copyright protection is a built-in bonus.
Copyright is a form of protection for creative and original works (literary, musical, artistic, among others) that are fixed in a "tangible form of expression." This simply means that what you've created—whether it's a sketch, a sculpture, or a short story—is intellectual property, and it is protected by copyright as long as it can be viewed (or communicated) in a fixed form. It is intended to protect, among other artistic works, literary work, both published and unpublished, giving the author the exclusive, legal right to copy and distribute the work. No one is allowed to copy, distribute, display, or sell copyrighted work without permission.
The "poor man's copyright" is the idea that if you mail yourself a copy of your own work, it becomes tangible proof of ownership. The misconception is that an unopened envelope with a canceled postmark will have some legal status in the courtroom, but this is simply not the case.
Anyone who creates an original creative work may claim copyright. However—and this is unclear for many writers—you do not have to do anything to secure a copyright for your work. Once the words you are reading are down on paper or saved to your hard drive (fixed in a tangible form of expression), they are automatically protected by copyright and immediately become the property of the author. What you write today will be protected for the length of your life, plus at least 70 years.
If you do decide to register with the Copyright Office, you'll find it an easy process. If you want the facts of your copyright on public record, take the time to officially register. You'll need to pay a fee, fill out a simple form (depending on the type of work you are registering), and send a copy of your work. For the most current fee schedule and other guidelines, call (202) 707-3000, or go to www.copyright.gov.