An opinion about Copyrights

^{An opinion about Copyrights}

You have been writing away. Your online writing career has blossomed. You have published your thoughts, your dreams and your wishes for a united and peaceful world. Your online community has given you accolades and you are feeling good about yourself as your writing has matured.

You are seeing other writer’s announce their publication of e-books and you are sure you are ready. Now the opinion, you have accumulated a body of work. You have written volumes about various subjects. These subjects include poetry, short stories, and family anecdotes. You are ready for the next step, which is to offer your work for sale. Yes, for money.

Depending on your level of commitment to your work and a thorough evaluation of your work’s potential or just the satisfaction that you felt your work worthy of protection, my opinion is to copyright your work.

The federal government is in charge of the copyright procedure. The United States Copyright Office has set up an online venue very well suited for the kind of works presented here on these pages.

What you will need:

http://www.copyright.gov/ = the online address

Your first visit you will need to create an account. Your name and address is required. You will need a checking account or credit card to pay them later in the process.

You are going to ‘Register a New Claim’

The claim is a process in three steps.

Complete an application

Make a payment

Submit your work

Click: START Registration

The first line asks for type of work. It took me several readings of the page to findout how to answer. At the bottom of the page is a dropdown box. Now all the old pros can laugh but it took a few minutes for me to recognize the dropdown box for what it was.

You select your choice in the dropdown box. It is most likely a literary work. If that does not suit your needs, select what does.

The next page asks for the Title of your work. Since I am recommending that you copyright ALL YOUR WORK at the same time I suggest something like, ‘The Collected works of Sunniebirdebookservices’ or a title that more closely resembles your work. Such as, ‘the Collected Works of YOUR NAME HERE’

The next page asks for previous publication dates. Near the date of your first publication should serve here.

Next: Authors name – you fill out your information

Next: Add Copyright Claimant: Your name reappears here

Next: Limitation of Claim: for your literary works select ‘Text’ it also allows your artwork to be covered, if you are looking to copyright your original artwork this is the spot to make note of that

Next: Rights and Permissions: Optional: There is an ADD ME button, click that

Next: Special Handling: Careful here the Fee is $760.00 as of this writing to cover special handling. If Mr. Speilberg is meeting you for lunch, you might consider this. Otherwise go to the next page

Next: Certification: Making your claim. Here you certify you have the right to make your claim.

Once you click to this a CASE NO, will appear. Write it down. Even though you will receive email confirmations.

Your have reached the second step of the process: PAYMENT is next. You can pay by e-check using your checking account. Have your checkbook handy, you will need routing numbers and account numbers. Or you will be routed to a secure page to use your credit card.

It will then ask you to up load your work that you are asking for a copyright o cover. Have your file ready. ONE file that contains everything you wish to have protected.

This should be done prior to you beginning the process.

Microsoft files with these extensions: .doc, docx, and .wps

Text files with .txt or rtf

A .pdf file

A .htm, html

.wpd word perfect file


These files are listed as acceptable formats.

They named the button to upload your file: Upload Deposit

Once your file is uploaded you will again see the Case Number. Make note of it. If you have questions regarding your application that number is your only hope of communicating with the Copyright Office.