Copyright Questions

[RosemarySage]

Does Liquid Silver Books register the copyright for the e-books or is it the responsibility of the author?

[Rachel Fox]

Originally Posted by RosemarySage

Does Liquid Silver Books register the copyright for the e-books or is it the responsibility of the author?

All books have a common copyright under state laws as soon as the work is complete. This costs nothing and is ruled by your state's common copyright law. Indiana has such a law.

Federal Copyright law requires registration and that is the responsibility of the author. Federal Copyright law is an extra layer of protection which basically guarantees the rights you already have under state laws and provides you the additional right to recover attorneys' fees and costs if you prevail.

Each author must decide if the extra layer of protection (i.e., the right to recover legal costs) is worth the filing fee.

As an attorney, I register my books, but I don't rush to do it. I wait until after the final version is out. Each version has to be copyrighted separately. So, if you copyrighted the book five years ago, then revise it and bring it to LSB, you would need to copyright it again. Technically, it is a different book. NY-publishers do that on print, mass, and when the author has switched publishers.

I also register my books with WGA-West as a non-member since they provide a service in which you send them the book -- they immediately seal it and provide you a certificate so that if anyone steals your words or idea (for Hollywood, you can't copyright ideas under Copyright Law, just your words), then they will come to court and unseal the envelope proving when you originally had the idea and exactly what the idea was. In Hollywood, ideas are worth money. So, if you ever intend to take your book to Hollywood, WGA-West is the way to go. Screenwriters always protect their screenplays this way.

More than you wanted to know, right?

Rachel

[RosemarySage]

Thanks. How do I get in touch with WGA?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by RosemarySage

How do I get in touch with WGA?

Go here.