How to Copyright Your Book?
What is copyrighting and why is it important to copyright your book?
Everyone who writes a book and shares it with the world wants to be attributed to that book. And there is only one way to ensure that, copyrighting their book. Many have put their stories on paper but do not know the step on how to protect their work.
This article will share the steps to take when copyrighting a book and the importance of doing it. Read on.
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Steps of Copyrighting Your Book
Understand the Copyright law of your country.
Before copyrighting your book, you must first know what the law of your country says about registering a book. Many countries are signatory to Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works adopted in 1886 and if your country is a signatory, then it means you are deemed the original owner of your book the moment you write it whether unpublished or published. The local laws will guide you on the process of copyrighting.
Visit the Copyright office.
After understanding what the law says, then you can visit the copyright office. You must have your original work printed out because in most cases a hard copy is to be presented. However, you can visit the website of the copyright office and send your book in soft copy beforehand. The hard copy should be the final polished copy that you have edited because that will be what it will be copyrighted.
Fill out the registration form
Once at the copyright office, you have to fill out your details in the form that will be provided for you. The information will be the basis to proof you are the true owner of your work. Some of the details that you have to fill are;
Your full names
Nationality
Address
Date of publication of your book
Copyright holder( you will put your name)
After filling out the details, you have to check to make sure all the details are correct. This is because the form will be used as the official record of your intellectual property, and you don’t want to give out the wrong details. Once you are sure you have filled in the correct information, you can submit the form.
Pay the application fee.
Before completing the application process, you have to pay the application fee. The amount varies depending on your location so it is paramount you know the application fee in your country. After paying the application fee, then it is time to wait for the feedback from the copyright office.
Await the feedback from the Copyright office.
This might take a few days to few months so you have to be patient. This is because the copyright office will have to check if the book is actually your original work. When the all process is over and you get your copyright certificate, then you can begin using the copyright symbol © as this will ensure that your work is protected.
Why Copyrighting Your Book Is Important?
Prevents your Intellectual Property from being stolen.
No one wants to have any of their property getting lost. Online scamming has risen and copyrighting your book will prevent people from stealing your work and taking credit for it. The copyright law will protect ownership of your work and help you take control of your creativity.
Ensures your rights will be protected.
The right to your works is legally protected as others will be able to have the right to access your work but through legal means. This way you as originator will have a right to own your work and also the reader will have a right to read your work. As the owner, you will have exclusive rights to your work and control how it will be presented to the public.
Gives you authority to take legal action against infringement.
When you copyright your book, then when someone reproduces any part of it or performs it without permission, you can go to court. Copyright law ensures that your book is protected and you have to approve for its reproduction and also anyone quoting should attribute it to you.
You get to earn from your book.
Just like any other investment, penning a book is no easy task. It takes time, sacrifice, energy, research and critical thinking to write a book. When you copyright your book, then you get to gain economically from it legally as the owner. The revenue that will be realized from the book will be channeled directly to you and this prevents another person profiting from your hard work.
Ensures that the public can trace you as the real owner.
Copyrighting your book will give the people access to you as they will know you are the originator of your book. By knowing how to reach you, it will be easier for someone who wants to use your work to contact you for permission. Online scammers can cite a part of your book and pass it as their own work and this can make it difficult for those who genuinely want to reach you to do it. But when you register your book, then the copyright law will protect you from scammers.
Earns your respect from other Artists.
Putting your thoughts down on paper is an investment. Copyrighting your work is a sign of being serious with your investment and creativity. It also proofs that you are genuine and respect creativity. This will make other artists to also respect your work.
Conclusion
As a writer you want to earn from your book and own it fully. To protect your book against online scammers, copyrighting it is vital. It is the only way to proof that the work is yours and you have exclusive rights to it. The copyright law is the legal avenue to secure your work.
Having your intellectual property protected should be the first step you take after writing your book. This will keep you safe from those who would want to rip you off your hard work.