In the USA, your work is automatically copyright at the moment you create it and "fix it in a tangible form." However, there are steps you must take to maintain that copyright, such as poviding reasonable notification of your copyright claim. That usually means printing the word "copyright" and/or the circle-c symbol (©) on each copy, along with your name and the year of creation. You should also enter the appropriate information into the "File Info" fields if you use Photoshop (under the File menu). On web pages, a notice such as appears at the bottom of each DPC page should be adequate.
If your want to sue or make a claim of infringement you must also REGISTER your work. The form used will vary with the medium; you'll usually have to send them two "copies" and $30 (sorry -- fees went up!); see previous post for link to the Copyright Office.
Also very useful are articles and books from self-help legal publisher Nolo Press.
On a PC you type the circle-c symbol by holding the ALT-key and typing 0169; on a Mac by typing Option-G. I don't know the code for Linux/UNIX (used to be (co but it's been 20 years...)
* This message has been edited by the author on 8/13/2002 2:34:45 AM.
* This message has been edited by the author on 8/13/2002 2:45:51 AM. |
