How to Get a Copyright

If it was not for copyrights and patents and intellectual property rights, those who create path breaking information or original work would not have got the due credit. This would also have enabled everyone else other than the original creator to use it as per their will and convenience. Getting a copyright, thus becomes inevitable for a person to protect what is his. People many times people shy away from getting their intellectual property copyrighted, even if they know that they can do it.

Getting a Copyright

To get a copyright, you can either go to the website of the US copyright office and fill up the application online along with around $35- $40. Once you fill the application online and send it to them, through the instructions given there, you are done. What you can also do is you can fill an electronic form in PDF, take printouts and mail it, along with $45. Yet another option through which you can get a copyright is to fill out paper forms and then mail the application. This is the basic procedure for getting copyright. In addition to this, there are some applications which have to be printed out, filled and then sent via mail. They cannot be just sent electronically. Prior to the application you will also need to know the difference between a copyright and a trademark.

How to Get a Copyright for a Book?

Well, the above procedure was the basic procedure to get a copyright. When you go to the US copyright office website, you will get to know everything you want to know about copyrights, getting them and for various kinds of creative work, from a book to a song, to a business. Still here is a bit about getting a book copyrighted.

Step 1- Finalizing the Manuscript
When it is about copyrighting a book, it is obvious that you will have to submit the manuscript, right? So before you get the book copyrighted, you will have to make sure that the manuscript is almost the final version. After obtaining the copyright, there is no chance that you can alter the work drastically.

Step 2- Hitting the Website
Once you are ready with manuscript, you are all set to visit the US copyright website. Logging on to the website will provide you with the details for getting the copyright for the book. The instructions will include the instructions for downloading the copyright form, in PDF format.

Step 3- Filling Up the Form
Download the form and the instructions for filling it. Follow that by printing the form. Once you get the print outs, fill the form properly, with all the details asked for. You will have to provide the information about the author, work submitted and the mailing address for the certificate.

Step 4- More Submission Details
Submit the manuscript (1 copy) on a paper measuring 8 ½ x 11 inch paper, with the copyright application fully filled. Also enclose a check worth $45 payable to the Library of Congress.

Step 5- Mailing the Package
Now after you have compiled the whole package including the manuscript, fees and the application form, mail the entire package to the Library of Congress, Copyright office. The address will be mentioned on the website as well as on the instructions with the form.

One more minor aspect is that in case you want to expedite your application, there will be a special four digit code extension for a literary work, as provided in the instructions. You will also get to know the details regarding how long a copyright lasts.

In case it is a business, you can similarly copyright the original and creative work related to the business. See? Once you are sure of the piece of work you want to get copyrighted, you can go ahead and do this! I hope this was useful!