Comments on Book Marketing Strategies and Tips For Authors: How To Register Your Copyright Online

One last point here: In my initial response to the...

2010-02-26T21:00:46.681-06:00

One last point here: In my initial response to the copyright question, I meant to cite this post:

WordPress Plugin to Automatically add Copyright Message to your RSS / ATOM Feeds - Angsuman’s Feed Copyrighter Plugin

but I had many browser tabs opened and grabbed the link/info from this one while multi-tasking:

Defending Your Site From Scrapers by SEOnotepad.com

This one discusses "cloaking" which is something I don't know anything about.

Just an FYI...

Another issue to consider (other than the copyrigh...

2010-02-26T20:51:21.009-06:00

Another issue to consider (other than the copyright issue I mentioned above) is that many publishers may balk at printing a book that has been substantially shared on a blog before publication. You can read this blog to see that I think there can be a time and place to share books by blogging them, but for most authors who are creating a non-published work and seeking a publisher, it's probably not the best thing to do. I would be more worried about what putting substantial portions of my book on a blog would do to my chances of getting it published than I would be about someone stealing it.

By law, once your words move from your mind to a &...

2010-02-26T20:43:18.320-06:00

By law, once your words move from your mind to a "printed" platform, you are protected under copyright laws. That includes what you put on a blog. Here are a couple of resources I found that may go to the heart of your issue:

Six Steps to Prevent Content Theft and Combat Copyright Infringement on Your Business Blog (Part 2 - what are you doing?) by AdvancedBusinessBlogging.com and RPM Success Group Inc.

and

Defending Your Site From Scrapers by SEOnotepad.com

You may also be interested in an e-mail exchange I had with the US Copyright Office between 12/5/09 and 12/7/09

My question:

I read this on your FAQs:

Do I have to register with your office to be protected?

No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work.
--

If the law says that I have a copyright and my work is protected as soon as it's created, then why is it compulsory to register to bring an infringement lawsuit? If I can only bring an infringement lawsuit if my copyright is registered, it seem that my work is really not copyrighted, therefore protected, without registration. Am I missing something. I value your assistance in helping me to understand the actual point of law on this.

Warmest regards,

Tony Eldridge

Here was their response:

Because registration provides additional benefits to the copyright owner under the law. Registration can serve as prima facie evidence and establishes the facts of the created work in a public record and that record is attested to and certified by the author on the application. And generally, registration within 3 months of publication allows for additional damages such as statutory damages and attorney's fees, otherwise one may only be awarded actual damages in cases of infringement.

For additional information, see Circular 1 at http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf .

Thank you.
cfk

I hope this helps.

Does anyone know about protecting the copy rights ...

2010-02-18T21:33:17.413-06:00

Does anyone know about protecting the copy rights of online material posted through a blog? I would like to share portions of my book before it is publication ready. I would also like to protect the material generated in my blog; it's my way of rough drafting the next book.

Any ideas?

I know. Now that they can do it online, it adds to...

2010-02-15T15:52:29.581-06:00

I know. Now that they can do it online, it adds to their profit margin substantially. It took me 15 minutes to submit my second book. Of course, It took me a little longer the first time because each step was new to me. But I was still done with the process then in less than 30 minutes.

Yup, it's pretty simple!! I can't believe...

2010-02-15T15:37:40.534-06:00

Yup, it's pretty simple!!

I can't believe that most subsidy/vanity presses charge $150-200 for this service, either.