How to Copyright Your Stuff

[Nathan]

I just put out on article on the importance of copyrighting your publications. Let me know what you all think. http://curiosityquills.com/the-why-an...

Sincerely,

Nathan L. Yocum

[Stephen]

Nathan wrote: "I just put out on article on the importance of copyrighting your publications. Let me know what you all think. http://curiosityquills.com/the-why-an...

My (currently out of print) book The Business of Being a Writer had a chapter called "Rights and Copyrights", which I've updated and published as a separate ebook. You can find out more about it here.

[Stacy]

Fantastic article, Nathan! As a person who has had her own article "forwarded" to her in an email, and later learned it had been translated into no less than five languages (at last count), I can tell you copyright is very important in the digital age. Thanks so much for the great info and step-by-step instructions!

[Nathan]

Stacy wrote: "Fantastic article, Nathan! As a person who has had her own article "forwarded" to her in an email, and later learned it had been translated into no less than five languages (at last count), I can t..."

You're welcome. It's crazy how easy it is to steal info these days.

[Patricia]

Thanks for the great information, Nathan. Can writers from different countries use that website? Or do we have to use one in our own country?

[Nathan]

Patricia wrote: "Thanks for the great information, Nathan. Can writers from different countries use that website? Or do we have to use one in our own country?"

Sorry Patricia, that website only applies to U.S. copyrights. If you're looking for a U.K. copyright, check out this site: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/copy.htm.

[Patricia]

Thanks, Nathan. would that website suite writers that live in Australia and who self-publish with American companies like Amazon and Smashwords?

[Nathan]

For Australian works, I recommend http://www.copyright.org.au/. You can obtain foreign copyrights, but I highly recommend you get the copyright in the country where you live and publish so you'll have jurisdiction in your home court. Consider it like this, if you only have a US copyright, then you'd have to bring action in US court (which could be difficult if you live in Australia). Obtaining local copyright opens you up to using local courts (because it's now local laws that are being violated).

Good question, do you mind if I post it in my column?

[[deleted user]]

Nathan wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Thanks for the great information, Nathan. Can writers from different countries use that website? Or do we have to use one in our own country?"

Sorry Patricia, that website only ap..."

For UK citizens and residents I would go here: http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk

I have all my books and my website registered with them and I sell on Amazon in the US and UK (and apparently elsewhere).

[Nathan]

David wrote: "Nathan wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Thanks for the great information, Nathan. Can writers from different countries use that website? Or do we have to use one in our own country?"

Sorry Patricia, tha..."

Thanks for the heads up, David!

[[deleted user]]

It is an important subject, and it needs to be done with an official third party.

There were at least two authors on the Amazon forums who posted threads about multiple versions of their books appearing on Kindle, so who knows what happens behind your back elsewhere?

[Nathan]

With the vulnerability of information in this digital age, it's just plain responsible to register your stuff. It's also cheaper and easier then most people realize.

[Patricia]

Thank you so much Nathan and David. You have been most helpful, more than you know. Can't thank you enough. I will follow your advice and to your question Nathan, yes, I don't mind if you post it in your column. Cheers.