Is it Copyright or Copywrite?
Of course, it is copyright. That is, if you are interested in protecting your work from unauthorized use. One of the steps an author should take is to register one’s work, though it is not necessary under current laws. Since January 1, 1978, under the United States copyright laws, your work is protected as soon as it is created and placed in a fixed, tangible form. If you don’t wish to register, add the notice of copyright using the © symbol or placing the word “copyright”, the date, and your name (Copyright 2009 John Smith) on your work.
What does copyright cover? The list includes literary works, music, visual arts, dramatic works and more. For details, the United States Copyright Office offers a .pdf file with detailed information on what is covered and what isn’t. Copyrighting your creation gives you the rights to do what you will and the ability to authorize others to reproduce, copy, distribute, perform or display.
It is best to copyright after you have published for the most current date to appear, starting the clock at that moment. Since you own your work seventy years past your death, pass on the copyright to your heirs in a will so that the benefits of your legacy can continue.
To obtain your copy of Copyright Basics, go to http://www.copyright.gov/ and learn more about your right to copyright.
Copyright © 2009 Dilsa Saunders Bailey – Must request permission to reprint.
