I've been sharing advice about writing on this blog for about two years now. When I began it, I'd hoped there would be communication between myself and the reader which would prompt further discussion on specific topics. Unfortunately, that hasn't occurred and I've run out of topics. So, I thought it fitting my final topic be about copyrights.
When I first began seriously thinking about sending off a novel to be published, I attended a writer's seminar and came away with tons of information, including those regarding copyrights. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines copyright as such: "The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (as a literary, musical, or artistic work.)
Years ago on the radio, a lawyer involved in the music industry said all a musician had to do to prove his work was written at a certain time was to mail a copy of it to himself. Then the stamped postage date on the envelope could be used as evidence in a copyright lawsuit. So, I thought the same holds true of novels. As it turns out, simply having tangible evidence of the work is all that's required. But it's good to put a copyright notice on your work. The best way to safeguard your work is to register it with the Library of Congress Copyright Office which can be done online. Something I wasn't aware of until this year is that being registered covers fees for an attorney if problems crop up concerning your work.
Most authors place a copyright notation on their works to warn off others who might want to copy their work. The copyright notation uses the word Copyright, and/or copyright symbol, ©, followed by the year of creation and the author's name. Example: Copyright © 2017 J. Peter.
This past winter, Attorney Anne Dalton, Esquire, who has many years of copyright experience shared Fair Use copyright tips with a Florida writer's group I belong to. The tip that hit home the most as a fiction writer was her reference to artwork, lyrics, and quotes. "There's no such thing as a free bite of the apple. Not even 2 lines of a song." Just because you give credit where credit is due doesn't get you off the hook. So, be careful what you write.
Watch the wording you sign on a contract deal too. You may be locked into something longer than you anticipated. 1.) The term ALL RIGHTS refers to the sale of all rights to the author's work. You as an author are unable to sell second rights to others. 2.) FIRST SERIAL RIGHTS means first rights to publish in U.S., but not Canada, are being granted. 3.)FIRST NORTH AMERICAN SERIAL RIGHTS-first rights are granted to U.S. and Canada. 4.) SIMULTANEOUS RIGHTS-author grants the right to more than one publisher to publish his work, at the same time or with no regard to who publishes first. 5.) ONE-TIME RIGHTS-author gives a publication permission to publish material one time and then all rights revert to the copyright holder.
Well, I hope what I've written over the years has helped you as a writer in some small way. Don't forget, keep on writing. You're never too old to start.
This is Marlene Chabot
Minnesota Mystery Author
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