What is a Copyright and do I need one?
Copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. Copyright does not protect ideas, only their expression or fixation. In a nutshell, copyright is an exclusive legal right given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same. It's up to you if you feel you need one!
Do I register my copyright on my own or do I do it through my publisher?
Either way, it's your choice. You can follow the links to the website of the U.S Copyright Office and complete the paperwork for your copyright. All transactions will be done through their website and has absolutely nothing to do with Griot Publishing or its affiliates. Now, if you would rather for us to obtain the copyright for you, we will gladly do that here. We still adhere by the rules of the Copyright Office which simply means that Griot Publishing has no control over the time frame of receiving your Copyright certificate nor do we have any control if they decide to raise their fees.
How do I register my copyright?
To register a work, either your Publisher or yourself can submit a completed application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, which is $35 if you register online or $45 if you register using a paper application; and a nonreturnable copy or copies of the work to be registered. U.S. Copyright Office 101 Independence Avenue SE Washington, DC 20559-6000 (202) 707-3000. If Griot Publishing processes your application, you will be assessed a processing fee of $35.00 in addition to the required Copyright fee.
Can I make copies of the application form?
You may not make copies of Form CO, which is available only on the Copyright Office website. Form CO is a fill-in form that creates and contains unique 2-D barcodes as you fill it in. The barcodes contain the information you place on the form, and they enable the Office to process your application faster and more efficiently.
Do I have to send in my work? Do I get it back?
Yes, you must send the required copy or copies of the work to be registered. Your copies will not be returned. If you register online using eCO eService, you may attach an electronic copy of your deposit. However, even if you register online, if the Library of Congress requires a hard-copy deposit of your work, you must send what the Library defines as the "best edition" of your work. Of the copyright law, all copies and identifying material, including those deposited in connection with claims that have been refused registration, are the property of the U.S. government.
Will my personal information be available to the public?
Yes. Please be aware that when you register your claim to a copyright in a work with the U.S. Copyright Office, you are making a public record. All the information you provide on your copyright registration is available to the public and will be available on the Internet.
How long does the registration process take?
The time the Copyright Office requires to process an application varies, depending on the amount of material the Office is receiving. If you file online, you may generally expect to receive a certificate of registration within approximately 5 months of submission. Some paper claims are taking more than a year for our office to process. However, the effective date of registration is the day the Copyright Office receives your complete submission is acceptable form. You do not need to wait for your certificate to proceed with publication.
Does my work have to be published to be protected?
Publication is not necessary for copyright protection.
How much do I have to change in my own work to make a new claim of copyright?
You may make a new claim in your work if the changes are substantial and creative, something more than just editorial changes or minor changes. This would qualify as a new derivative work. For instance, simply making spelling corrections throughout a work does not warrant a new registration, but adding an additional chapter would.
Copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work. Copyright does not protect ideas, only their expression or fixation. In a nutshell, copyright is an exclusive legal right given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same. It's up to you if you feel you need one!
Do I register my copyright on my own or do I do it through my publisher?
Either way, it's your choice. You can follow the links to the website of the U.S Copyright Office and complete the paperwork for your copyright. All transactions will be done through their website and has absolutely nothing to do with Griot Publishing or its affiliates. Now, if you would rather for us to obtain the copyright for you, we will gladly do that here. We still adhere by the rules of the Copyright Office which simply means that Griot Publishing has no control over the time frame of receiving your Copyright certificate nor do we have any control if they decide to raise their fees.
How do I register my copyright?
To register a work, either your Publisher or yourself can submit a completed application form, a nonrefundable filing fee, which is $35 if you register online or $45 if you register using a paper application; and a nonreturnable copy or copies of the work to be registered. U.S. Copyright Office 101 Independence Avenue SE Washington, DC 20559-6000 (202) 707-3000. If Griot Publishing processes your application, you will be assessed a processing fee of $35.00 in addition to the required Copyright fee.
Can I make copies of the application form?
You may not make copies of Form CO, which is available only on the Copyright Office website. Form CO is a fill-in form that creates and contains unique 2-D barcodes as you fill it in. The barcodes contain the information you place on the form, and they enable the Office to process your application faster and more efficiently.
Do I have to send in my work? Do I get it back?
Yes, you must send the required copy or copies of the work to be registered. Your copies will not be returned. If you register online using eCO eService, you may attach an electronic copy of your deposit. However, even if you register online, if the Library of Congress requires a hard-copy deposit of your work, you must send what the Library defines as the "best edition" of your work. Of the copyright law, all copies and identifying material, including those deposited in connection with claims that have been refused registration, are the property of the U.S. government.
Will my personal information be available to the public?
Yes. Please be aware that when you register your claim to a copyright in a work with the U.S. Copyright Office, you are making a public record. All the information you provide on your copyright registration is available to the public and will be available on the Internet.
How long does the registration process take?
The time the Copyright Office requires to process an application varies, depending on the amount of material the Office is receiving. If you file online, you may generally expect to receive a certificate of registration within approximately 5 months of submission. Some paper claims are taking more than a year for our office to process. However, the effective date of registration is the day the Copyright Office receives your complete submission is acceptable form. You do not need to wait for your certificate to proceed with publication.
Does my work have to be published to be protected?
Publication is not necessary for copyright protection.
How much do I have to change in my own work to make a new claim of copyright?
You may make a new claim in your work if the changes are substantial and creative, something more than just editorial changes or minor changes. This would qualify as a new derivative work. For instance, simply making spelling corrections throughout a work does not warrant a new registration, but adding an additional chapter would.
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