What's the best and easiest way to copyright something? - Page 2

TSR · 10th May 2012, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by jadebox

It would still be much easier to fake than an actual copyright registration. Plus, to use it you'd have to open the envelope, destroying your evidence.

... while creating another, more official paper trail and documentation of creation of the work in question.

Originally Posted by jadebox

Another way to accomplish pretty much the same thing (that wouldn't have to be destroyed to be used), would be to photocopy the document then have the post office stamp the date on the copy for you. But, I don't know of any cases of that method being successfully used in a court either.

I don't know where you live, but Post Offices around here are not in the business of stamping arbitrary photocopies. A notary might come close, but they do not, generally speaking, read the document they are notarizing -- merely documenting that it was signed in their presence by the person they record as having done.

baron · 10th May 2012, 04:17 PM

Forget about it. Worrying about copyright for a script is an exercise in futility. Nobody's going to copy it and even if they did, a typical script is modified by everyone and their dog before it gets to production so it's highly unlikely you could prove a breach. Indeed, most US production companies will insist you sign a disclaimer before they read the script saying you won't sue them under any circumstance so your copyright is moot. I don't have experience of actors reading scripts but I wouldn't be surprised if the same is true. Honestly, don't waste your time and money, just get it out there to as many relevant people as you can.

jadebox · 11th May 2012, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by TSR

... while creating another, more official paper trail and documentation of creation of the work in question.

I don't know where you live, but Post Offices around here are not in the business of stamping arbitrary photocopies. A notary might come close, but they do not, generally speaking, read the document they are notarizing -- merely documenting that it was signed in their presence by the person they record as having done.

No, there won't be documentation because a "poor man's copyright' wouldn't be accepted by the court case in the first place. And, yes, the post office will date stamp a photocopy for you, but that technique wouldn't hold in court either.

Registering a copyright is easy, inexpensive, and ... effective. The other things won't work.

-- Roger

gumboot · 11th May 2012, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by tomwaits

I still don't understand. What is mailing yourself the material going to do? There's no evidence that it has ever worked, and in order to file suit in court you'd have to be registered anyway, so there's absolutely no point. You might as well do nothing. There is zero gain in mailing yourself the material and all the gain in the world by registering.

Having a historic record of multiple different drafts and versions is actually far more compelling evidence of original ownership that copyright registration. It's pretty easy to file a false registration. Faking the development of intellectual property from initial conception to final product is much, much more difficult.

tomwaits · 11th May 2012, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by gumboot

Having a historic record of multiple different drafts and versions is actually far more compelling evidence of original ownership that copyright registration. It's pretty easy to file a false registration. Faking the development of intellectual property from initial conception to final product is much, much more difficult.

Again, in the US copyright registration is prima facie evidence of copyright. Not only that, but to take legal action for copyright violation you are required under US law to be registered. Having records of drafts is nice, sure. But doing the "poor man's copyright" instead of registering is just plain foolish, and any attorney who says otherwise is begging for a malpractice suit.

Seriously, has any evidence been provided that this method has worked in a US court of law in any way? All I've seen so far is that somebody's friend may or may not have used it in negotiations for a settlement, which means nothing. We have no idea what the case was, who they were, or why they settled. There could be a million reasons why the case was settled. Give me a statute or a judicial opinion that talks about it, and then we might be getting somewhere.

10th May 2012, 04:13 PM	#41
TSR Do you know what this notorious criminal did? Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,788	Originally Posted by jadebox It would still be much easier to fake than an actual copyright registration. Plus, to use it you'd have to open the envelope, destroying your evidence. ... while creating another, more official paper trail and documentation of creation of the work in question. Originally Posted by jadebox Another way to accomplish pretty much the same thing (that wouldn't have to be destroyed to be used), would be to photocopy the document then have the post office stamp the date on the copy for you. But, I don't know of any cases of that method being successfully used in a court either. I don't know where you live, but Post Offices around here are not in the business of stamping arbitrary photocopies. A notary might come close, but they do not, generally speaking, read the document they are notarizing -- merely documenting that it was signed in their presence by the person they record as having done.
	__________________ My apologies once again for not being allowed to use the obvious shorthand term for a person who knowingly posts untruths. Apparently someone finds that term uncivil, demonstrated and deserved as it is. . "My family is not my weakness, Max. It's my strength." Vince Faraday aka The Cape

10th May 2012, 04:17 PM	#42
baron Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Hill Posts: 1,910	Forget about it. Worrying about copyright for a script is an exercise in futility. Nobody's going to copy it and even if they did, a typical script is modified by everyone and their dog before it gets to production so it's highly unlikely you could prove a breach. Indeed, most US production companies will insist you sign a disclaimer before they read the script saying you won't sue them under any circumstance so your copyright is moot. I don't have experience of actors reading scripts but I wouldn't be surprised if the same is true. Honestly, don't waste your time and money, just get it out there to as many relevant people as you can.
	__________________

11th May 2012, 09:21 AM	#43
jadebox Muse Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oviedo, FL Posts: 904	Originally Posted by TSR ... while creating another, more official paper trail and documentation of creation of the work in question. I don't know where you live, but Post Offices around here are not in the business of stamping arbitrary photocopies. A notary might come close, but they do not, generally speaking, read the document they are notarizing -- merely documenting that it was signed in their presence by the person they record as having done. No, there won't be documentation because a "poor man's copyright' wouldn't be accepted by the court case in the first place. And, yes, the post office will date stamp a photocopy for you, but that technique wouldn't hold in court either. Registering a copyright is easy, inexpensive, and ... effective. The other things won't work. -- Roger
	__________________ "Everyone should own a little jade box." - Harry Nilsson

11th May 2012, 06:03 PM	#44
gumboot lorcutus.tolere Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 23,125	Originally Posted by tomwaits I still don't understand. What is mailing yourself the material going to do? There's no evidence that it has ever worked, and in order to file suit in court you'd have to be registered anyway, so there's absolutely no point. You might as well do nothing. There is zero gain in mailing yourself the material and all the gain in the world by registering. Having a historic record of multiple different drafts and versions is actually far more compelling evidence of original ownership that copyright registration. It's pretty easy to file a false registration. Faking the development of intellectual property from initial conception to final product is much, much more difficult.
	__________________ O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi. A fan of fantasy? Check out Project Dreamforge.

11th May 2012, 07:19 PM	#45
tomwaits Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago, IL, USA Posts: 2,288	Originally Posted by gumboot Having a historic record of multiple different drafts and versions is actually far more compelling evidence of original ownership that copyright registration. It's pretty easy to file a false registration. Faking the development of intellectual property from initial conception to final product is much, much more difficult. Again, in the US copyright registration is prima facie evidence of copyright. Not only that, but to take legal action for copyright violation you are required under US law to be registered. Having records of drafts is nice, sure. But doing the "poor man's copyright" instead of registering is just plain foolish, and any attorney who says otherwise is begging for a malpractice suit. Seriously, has any evidence been provided that this method has worked in a US court of law in any way? All I've seen so far is that somebody's friend may or may not have used it in negotiations for a settlement, which means nothing. We have no idea what the case was, who they were, or why they settled. There could be a million reasons why the case was settled. Give me a statute or a judicial opinion that talks about it, and then we might be getting somewhere.