How Copyright Works

Your work is copyrighted and owned by you the moment you finish writing it. There's no need to file any paperwork or add any symbols to your material. You wrote it, you own it, you hold the copyright.

The US Copyright Office maintains a FAQ on their site:

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html

Note that the US office maintains relations with just about every other country's office, so you don't have to worry about copyrighting your information all around the globe.

The only reason you would ever have to *file* a copyright is if you wished to sue someone who had stolen your work. In that case, you would file to be on record as the legal owner before you headed into court.

It might be worth it to you to file a copyright on your work when it is complete, just to have it done. It's very quick and easy to do, and can help you feel that you've reached a milestone. If you don't do it, though, don't feel like you "do not have a copyright"! You most definitely do.

From Terrie - Homeschooling Author
If you get a copyright--which isn't necessary if you're only submitting to mainstream publishers--don't put the notice on the manuscript. It marks you as an amateur.

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