A question about copyrights for authors

[PredatorSmile]

Hello, guys. Are there some authors in here ? Of course there are ! I recently wrote a collection of short stories and sent them to be registered at the U.S. Copyright Office. I’ve done this before, and thought the general fee to register a Literary work was $ 30 but it recently changed to $ 45, and I did not know.


Since my collection of short stories was rather large, I had to break it off into several different anthologies. Basically, three books. I sent them with a money order for $ 30. Now, the fee has changed. What’s going to happen to my works ?


Should I mail the difference to the copyright office ? Write them to explain the situation and wait for instructions ?


What should I do ?

 

[robbie_boy1]

I always thought the easiest way to copyright something was to mail it to yourself and never open the package once you get it back or if they stamp it at the post office......it becomes an offical seal in case you ever see your stuff in print. Now I know you can't copyright an idea but you can copyright your shit....any lawyers out there?

Hello, guys. Are there some authors in here ? Of course there are ! I recently wrote a collection of short stories and sent them to be registered at the U.S. Copyright Office. I’ve done this before, and thought the general fee to register a Literary work was $ 30 but it recently changed to $ 45, and I did not know.


Since my collection of short stories was rather large, I had to break it off into several different anthologies. Basically, three books. I sent them with a money order for $ 30. Now, the fee has changed. What’s going to happen to my works ?


Should I mail the difference to the copyright office ? Write them to explain the situation and wait for instructions ?


What should I do ?

 

[CharleyH]

Hello, guys. Are there some authors in here ? Of course there are ! I recently wrote a collection of short stories and sent them to be registered at the U.S. Copyright Office. I’ve done this before, and thought the general fee to register a Literary work was $ 30 but it recently changed to $ 45, and I did not know.


Since my collection of short stories was rather large, I had to break it off into several different anthologies. Basically, three books. I sent them with a money order for $ 30. Now, the fee has changed. What’s going to happen to my works ?


Should I mail the difference to the copyright office ? Write them to explain the situation and wait for instructions ?


What should I do ?

Hm - I answered this same question on the AH. I raise an eyebrow.

 

[Night_Jasmine]

Pick up a copy of Writers Market. They cover copyrights in it. That might help, and I know there's a place to write to in order to get questions like this answered.

 

[jacintexas]

Hello, guys. Are there some authors in here ? Of course there are ! I recently wrote a collection of short stories and sent them to be registered at the U.S. Copyright Office. I’ve done this before, and thought the general fee to register a Literary work was $ 30 but it recently changed to $ 45, and I did not know.


Since my collection of short stories was rather large, I had to break it off into several different anthologies. Basically, three books. I sent them with a money order for $ 30. Now, the fee has changed. What’s going to happen to my works ?


Should I mail the difference to the copyright office ? Write them to explain the situation and wait for instructions ?


What should I do ?

Under current copyright law as soon as you finish a work it's copyrighted to you even if you don;t register it, but do it any way. But if push comes down to shove all you need do it be able to prove it's your work. That can be done by having someone read it as a witness or post it online. Another way it to take an original copy to a post office and have them date stamp it then file it away somewhere safe. Copyright laws have changed a lot of teh last 20 years and there are a lot of online resources you can read. Google Copyright.. one of the best places iw the website for the US Copyright office.. It has tons of info and FAQS you can read.