Q&A for How to Copyright Poetry

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  • Question
    Is registering literary material the same as copyrighting it?
    Community Answer
    No, they're not the same. Anyone can "claim" ownership (authorship) of poetry, a book, etc. by putting the c symbol at the bottom. Just because the poetry is yours as soon as you created the work doesn't mean that someone will not try to attempt to place claims on your work. Registering your work is PUBLIC PROOF that you are in fact the author, in case someone were to attempt to make claims on your writings.
  • Question
    I want to register my poems but how?
    Community Answer
    You automatically have copyright and moral rights in any original creation you have made. You can indicate that you are enforcing that copyright by placing the (C) copyright symbol next to each poem. The thing is monitoring misuse of the poems rather than seeking to claim it. Beware paying anyone who claims to copyright things for you.
  • Question
    I have a book of 110 poems. Is this considered one literary work or is each individual poem considered one literary work?
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    You can register the copyright of the entire work or individual poems. If you are not the author of all of the poems, it can still be registered as one "collective work".
  • Question
    How do I copyright my deceased husband's poems?
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    They are either already copyrighted (by rule) or not, depending upon when and where they were created, whether they were ever published, and other circumstances. If he wrote them less than 120 years ago, and did not publish them (in the USA) they are still copyrighted and you have the legal right to register his/your ownership according to how the estate assets were transferred to heirs.
  • Question
    We're a non-profit organization trying to publish a book on poetry from residents of out of country. How are we going to do the copyright?
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    That could qualify as a suitably complicated situation that can benefit from discussing the circumstances with a professionally trained copyright attorney in your country.
  • Question
    How do I register or copyright a large amount of unpublished poems with the USCO?
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    You follow the steps listed above in this article, assuming you already own the copyrights.
  • Question
    Can I edit my poem if I've already registered it?
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    Yes, you can. The copyright registration also extends to "derivative works", and if you edit enough differences you may want to file a new registration for poems 2.0.
  • Question
    Can I copyright my work created on an Apple using Pages?
    Upnorth Here
    Top Answerer
    If you created an original work of authorship, for your own purpose (and not for an employer) then you are the owner of the copyright. Whether you used a pencil or a computer doesn't matter.
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