How to Copyright Your Book

Copyrighting your book is one of the processes in book publishing that many authors are always skeptical about. However, it’s not difficult to understand as many think.

A copyright is a public record that the content made by a creator is his or her intellectual property. This means that only the copyright holder has exclusive rights to copy, publicly display or distribute their original work. Copywriting your books protects your works from being stolen and passed on to the next party as the original owners. As a writer, you should be aware of existing copywriting laws and infringements so that you too do not find yourself on the wrong side of the law. This article will discuss in detail how you can protect yourself and your work from being misused or stolen and how to ensure that you are not caught up in law tassels in copyright matters. Keep reading!

Why You Should Copyright Your Book

The main reason to copyright your book is to protect it against infringement by another person through the provision of proof that you are the original creator of the content in question. For example, when you have the copyright to the book, you can prevent a bookstore from selling copies of these books at a profit. It doesn’t matter whether you have gone through professional publishing or self-publishing. According to the USA Copyright law, it establishes you are the author of your book. You can also file a copyright registration in the USA after you have produced your work. This is important because you will use this to take action against infringement, and you will gain compensation in the form of statutory damages. Failure to produce corporate registration will require you to prove extensively that you are the owner of the intellectual property in question and that your rights have been infringed. 

1.    Go to the official copyright website.

The official copyright website in the USA is copyright.gov. The site allows you to fill out and submit your registration forms online by completing a few simple steps.

2.    Check the correct category.

Click on the icon indicating “register copyright” there is a drop-down on the same icon where you should select “literary works.”

3.    Create an account and select standard application 

After logging in to this portal, check on the left side of the screen and select register at work. Under that, choose the standard application.

4.    Ensure you fill the appropriate form on the website

Start your registration by clicking on the icon written start registration. Once this is done, you should complete the form with that relevant book information.

5.    Make fee payment for the registration

A payment guidance will appear, which you need to complete the payment. The amount payable is $85, which is the fee for the registration.

6.    Do your submission of your written material.

Submit the final version of the manuscript to the US Copyright office.

Why Disclaimers Are Important

A disclaimer protects yourself and other parties. A disclaimer is important because it highlights the unforeseen possibilities and makes the reader aware that the reverse of what you have written may as well happen. For example, if you’re book on ‘how one can make money within two years.’ and they end up losing money within these two years, you may be charged for misinforming the reader. A disclaimer, therefore, protects what you opinionate, what your advice, and what you inform the reader. In simple terms, a disclaimer tells your readers that the reading and application of the information from your writings are at their own risk. An example of a typical disclaimer is this.

“the highlighted characters in this novel are entirely fictional, and the resemblance of any character to an actual person dead or alive is entirely coincidental.”

2.    Intellectual property.

The rights given to persons over the creations of their minds. They usually give the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a certain period of time.

3.    Public domain work

These are works that are no longer protected by intellectual property laws because the intellectual property rights have expired.

4.    Plagiarism

This is wrongful stealing of published content

5.    Amendment 1

This is an amendment that prevents law-making bodies from curtailing the people’s freedom, for example, freedom of expression through your literature works.

6.    Fair Use. 

This is any form of copying of the copyrighted material for a limited purpose, for example, doing a parody of material that is copyright protected.

7.    Libelous writing

A libelous statement is either false or damaging to the image of a person or an institution. It is in the same group as slander and defamation.

Conclusion

Copyright is an essential part of book writing because it protects you against copyright laws and protects your material from being stolen or misused by a third party. An understanding of how to copyright your book will make your book safe for selling while ensuring that you are abiding by the law.