Beat the Copycats, Before they Beat you!
Picture this:
You come up with an idea that you know will be a best-selling novel. One that will leave movie studios in a bidding war to bring your magic to the big screen.
But you don’t just stop at the idea. You take the time to work through it; to build beautifully complex characters and page-turning scenes.
You. Do. The. Work.
You get amazing feedback from beta readers and hire an editor to perfect your prose, and create a launch plan the likes of which no one has ever seen.
Your publishing date is just around the corner. Family and friends are excited to get your story into the world.
And you do! Your book is live! You cry tears of joy.
Days later, you’re still crying, but for a different reason.
You’ve found a website that’s selling your book—your hard-won ideas, your characters, your baby. The trouble is, the author listed isn’t you!
You see it all the time. Fake pages cropping up claiming to be this famous person or that; this influencer or that. All in the name of achieving unearned notoriety or attention.
The publishing world is no exception. While the previous example might have been a bit extreme, a number of indie authors have had to deal with their work being plagiarized or outright stolen.
And while there’s no guarantee it won’t happen to you, there is a way to protect yourself and avoid a lengthy dispute should you find your work has been plagiarized.
Copyright your book!!!
Technology has become the great equalizer. With it, those with fewer resources are able to create spaces and success for themselves that weren’t possible with traditional methods.
Take for instance sites like Wattpad. Through their serialized model, writers can upload their books one chapter at a time, while building a supportive community of readers.
It’s no wonder many emerging writers have flocked to these spaces…yet so, too, have those who’d like to gain fans and notoriety without putting in the blood, sweat, tears, or time!
Plagiarists have stolen and reposted the work of some of the site’s most prolific writers, and also some of the least known.
And this isn’t something that’s only happening with works that aren’t “officially” published. Just ask the 7 (and still counting) creators who had their work stolen—and published in a book—by a fellow influencer.
If the allegations prove to be true, this influencer has profited from plagiarized work. But if those creators didn’t register the copyright, they won’t be able to file a lawsuit to enforce it!
“But doesn’t me just writing it down or saving it to a USB automatically copyright it?”
Technically, yes, but the trouble with depending on only these strategies to prove your ownership is that it isn’t foolproof. For instance, what happens if you later lose the notebook you wrote it in? What if your USB is lost or damaged?
Both of these have happened to me, and while I’ve been fortunate enough to not have my work stolen, if it is, I’ll have peace of mind knowing that I have the official paperwork to prove ownership.
In the beginning example, I discussed what might happen if you found yourself having to file a lawsuit. But what if the tables were turned?
What if you were accused of copyright infringement by someone who’d actually stolen your work, or had a work that’s similar to yours?
If this person took it a step further and actually registered the copyright for the stolen work, it would be that much harder for you to prove ownership.
Ultimately, the chances of your book being stolen probably aren’t that high, but why even take the risk when the solution is cheap + easy to do?!
Don’t make the mistake of letting hours—sometimes years— of work go unprotected. If your book is published and you haven’t registered it, the current electronic filing fee for a single-author work is $45. Ditch the coffee runs (or tea!) for a few weeks and invest it in your peace of mind!
A few frequently “forgotten-to-ask-but-important” questions**:
How does copyright work if I write under a pseudonym?
If you’re writing under a pseudonym (I previously wrote under the name Valeri Beatrix), the process for filing a copyright is the same, but you have two choices on how you approach it:
If you want to file under your legal name, you would list both your pseudonym and your legal name during registration. Your real name will then be listed in the online public records and cannot be removed.
If you want to remain fully anonymous, you would list your pseudonym only, during the registration process.
Do I have to pay a lawyer to file for me?
No, you do not. While there are many legal websites that will file the paperwork for you, an attorney is not required for you to obtain registration.
The official US site, www.copyright.gov, might seem intimidating, but it is fairly straight forward. They also provide instructions on every step of the process. Plus, the cost to file directly (for a literary work) is 50% less than most legal sites charge!
Do I have to copyright if I’m going to get an agent/traditional publisher?
If you’re at the stage where you’re submitting to a reputable agent, filing would still give you peace of mind, but it isn’t necessary. Once your book is accepted by a publisher, it will likely undergo more editing which means a new copyright.
Keep in mind, depending on the contract, the publisher may end up being the owner of the copyright.
If you plan to have others read your work before publishing, such as editors, beta readers and friends, I’d suggest having them sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) beforehand. This might seem like a bit much for some, but again, there’s nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution.
When should I file a copyright?
The US copyright office suggests “timely filing”, which is registration within three months of publication date.
I obtained a copyright for my book then had it edited. Do I need to re-register after making changes?
This depends on the changes you make. If your changes were minor—typos, grammar, word choice, etc.—then it isn’t necessary to refile.
If however, your story undergoes major structural changes such as a significant addition of new material or new chapters altogether, this is considered a new derivative work and requires a new registration.
**I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV :)
Got questions?
Do you have specific questions about the copyright process, or other elements of your writing journey?
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