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Subject:Re: Copyrighting From:Dick Margulis <ampersandvirgule -at- WORLDNET -dot- ATT -dot- NET> Date:Fri, 22 May 1998 20:25:12 -0400
Tracy Boyington wrote:
>
>
> In fact, your document is automatically
> protected by copyright even if you don't use a copyright statement.
> There is a fee for registering your works with the U.S. Copyright
> Office, but they do NOT have to be registered to be legally protected.
> Registering simply gives you more options in the event of a copyright
> violation (bigger lawsuits).
>
Well, yes and no. This used to be entirely true. But I believe the law
changed about ten years ago; and particularly with respect to
international copyright, your options were significantly reduced.
If you have written something that is likely to be read by more than
three people and that someone might actually go out an buy some day, it
is worth the few dollars (used to be ten, maybe it's gone up) and the
brief bit of bureaucratic form-filling-out to register it the right way.
As a practical matter, although your common law rights may remain intact
without registering, no lawyer will come near the case if you have not
done so.
