Why You Should Register Your Book With the U.S. Copyright Office
As soon as you write something original down on paper, or into your computer, you have made an idea into a tangible medium of expression. Congratulations! You have a copyright. However, proving you are the owner of the copyright is another matter.
The copyright owner has the exclusive right to exploit the work, to sell and distribute the work, perform, display, or create derivative works. It is for this reason that owning the copyright is crucial for any creative work. Owning the copyright protects you from infringement of your work. In other words, if someone comes across your creative work, whether it’s a book, a poem, a screenplay, or sheet music, they cannot copy it, distribute it, or use it in any way without your authorization in the form of approval or licensure.
Poor Man’s Copyright
You may have heard of Poor Man’s Copyright where you mail yourself a copy of your manuscript to prove the date of its existence. This is no better than producing your Word document file with a time date stamp on it. Don’t waste your postage stamps.
Writer’s Guild Copyright Registration
The Writer’s Guild is another option and a common depository for screenwriters to file a copyright of their work. This can be a beneficial practice for when it comes time to shop the treatment or screenplay to agents, studios, or producers. By pitching the screenplay, you are making your work public and arguably vulnerable to infringers. For this reason, it is an easy and inexpensive service the Writer’s Guild provides for members and non-members.
That being said, the Writer’s Guild is not a substitute for filing with the U.S. Copyright Office and the extent of the protections that comes with it in the event of an infringement.
U.S. Copyright Registration
When you file your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office, this filing gives you the right to sue infringers for attorney fees, actual economic damages, and even statutory damages up to $150,000 without the burden of proving that the copyright infringement was done intentionally. In other words, if your work is registered with the US Copyright Office, an infringer can be liable for statutory damages even if he was unaware of your copyright. This level of protection is only available with the copyright registration.
When to Register Your Copyright
The U.S. Copyright Office encourages “timely registration” — which means registering within three months of the work’s publication date, or before any infringement takes place.
Traditional publishers generally register the copyright in the author’s name at their expense. Small presses and hybrid publishers, however, may not take the time or want to incur the costs, in which case it will be up to you. Likewise, if you are self-publishing, it will be your responsibility to protect your copyright. You can register your copyright at copyright.gov.