copyright

[wholeONE]

:hello: I have a book title that I want to get copyrighted and don't know how to go about it. I haven't written the book yet, but I definitely want a certain title when I get it done and want to protect that title while I am working on it. Is there anyone in the community that can give me information or point me in the right direction on how I can go about this? :heart::heart::Yinyangv::heart::heart:

[Karl Frederick]

:hello: I have a book title that I want to get copyrighted and don't know how to go about it. I haven't written the book yet, but I definitely want a certain title when I get it done and want to protect that title while I am working on it. Is there anyone in the community that can give me information or point me in the right direction on how I can go about this? :heart::heart::Yinyangv::heart::heart:

I've seen books with the same title by different authors. Perhaps a title can't be copyrighted.

[theindependenteye]

:hello: I have a book title that I want to get copyrighted and don't know how to go about it. I haven't written the book yet, but I definitely want a certain title when I get it done and want to protect that title while I am working on it. Is there anyone in the community that can give me information or point me in the right direction on how I can go about this? :heart::heart::Yinyangv::heart::heart:

Hi--

I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is that you cannot copyright a title or an idea for a book, only the book itself. Certainly the Copyright Office would have all this information online.

And even if you've written the book and have thereby secured copyright (which you do simply by writing it -- registering it with the copyright office is just a procedure that makes the right more secure), you still don't own exclusive rights to the title. If you write a book called ZIPPERSTICK and someone else publishes a book by the same title, you would have to go to court and prove that his use of the title constituted plagiarism and that you were materially damaged by it. You might be able to do this, but the burden of proof would be on you.

Of course the other person probably wouldn't use that title if your book were published and in print, because of that legal risk. Unless it's out there in public view I don't think even a copyright is going to protect your title, unless perhaps you prove that the other guy saw your manuscript and stole it. Your best bet is to write the book and get it published.

Anybody out there, please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Cheers--
Conrad

[nbolmer]

Conrad refers to the Berne Convention which states essentially that as soon as a creative work is fixed in tangible form, it is protected under copyright law. This is in contrast to trademark and especially patent law. There are minutiae that were more interesting in lawschool than they are in practice, but, essentially, to an aspiring writer, there is little protection to be gained through registration of your completed work. The title itself is not barred, per se, from registration, but it also would do nothing to prevent another from using it in a completed work. Here's a good source for you to read over :https://www.sfwa.org/beware/copyright.html

Cheers,

Noah A. Bolmer


Hi--

I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding is that you cannot copyright a title or an idea for a book, only the book itself. Certainly the Copyright Office would have all this information online.

And even if you've written the book and have thereby secured copyright (which you do simply by writing it -- registering it with the copyright office is just a procedure that makes the right more secure), you still don't own exclusive rights to the title. If you write a book called ZIPPERSTICK and someone else publishes a book by the same title, you would have to go to court and prove that his use of the title constituted plagiarism and that you were materially damaged by it. You might be able to do this, but the burden of proof would be on you.

Of course the other person probably wouldn't use that title if your book were published and in print, because of that legal risk. Unless it's out there in public view I don't think even a copyright is going to protect your title, unless perhaps you prove that the other guy saw your manuscript and stole it. Your best bet is to write the book and get it published.

Anybody out there, please correct me if I'm mistaken.

Cheers--
Conrad

[divine inspiration]

Check with the Small Business Development Council in Santa Rosa. They have a division that addresses intelectual property rights. I think the guys name is Sawyer.
They will advise you, but I think the others are right, in that you would need to write the book to copyright it.

[gypsey]

Go to ww.copyright.gov to get all your copyright questions answered, but it is my understanding that your work when produced in written or other form is automaticly copyrighted. However, without registering it you cannot recover damages or sue for infringement. Now as to title, it is also my understanding that titles cannot be copyrighted. Systems or methods can be trademarked and that might then be a part of your title. There may be a gov. website about trademarks, the one I am directing you to is only about copyright. Usually an intellectual property lawyer is your best source for these answers...I am not a lawyer.
Good luck.


:hello: I have a book title that I want to get copyrighted and don't know how to go about it. I haven't written the book yet, but I definitely want a certain title when I get it done and want to protect that title while I am working on it. Is there anyone in the community that can give me information or point me in the right direction on how I can go about this? :heart::heart::Yinyangv::heart::heart:

[Dynamique]

Nolo Press had a book out regarding copyright and intellectual property protection. It's pretty hefty, but a good low-cost resource.

If you can afford a half-hour consult with an intellectual property attorney, that's probably the easiest way to get a concise, useful answer.

If you can find a straight answer, please share it with us!

Good luck,
Kirsten


Go to ww.copyright.gov to get all your copyright questions answered, but it is my understanding that your work when produced in written or other form is automaticly copyrighted. However, without registering it you cannot recover damages or sue for infringement. Now as to title, it is also my understanding that titles cannot be copyrighted. Systems or methods can be trademarked and that might then be a part of your title. There may be a gov. website about trademarks, the one I am directing you to is only about copyright. Usually an intellectual property lawyer is your best source for these answers...I am not a lawyer.
Good luck.