One of the most confusing topics for self-publishing authors is copyright laws. Many authors want to know if they need to place the copyright symbol( © ) into their manuscripts and if so, where. Here is how it works.
Your manuscript is protected by copyright laws as soon as you write it. It does not have to have a symbol to be protected. Most authors trust the people they send their manuscripts to and therefore do need to have the copyright symbol displayed . Also, professionals in the industry, such as publishers or agents, may see you as an amateur since it is not necessary to register your copyright until publication.
However, if you feel more comfortable displaying the symbol on your manuscript, you can. The correct method is to insert the symbol followed by the year and your first and last name. It should appear on the title page only! Do not insert it elsewhere in the manuscript. If you want your manuscript to be treated professionally, it needs to follow the industry format.
It is also important to point out that you do not need to go through the trouble of registering the copyright with the government until the book is published. Most likely, you will make changes to the content of your book before it is published, so you want to wait until everything is finalized before you pay for a copyright.
You can learn more about copyrights at www.copyright.gov.
Also, check out these other posts on the topic.
The Importance of Copyrights and Trademarks for Self-Published Authors
Six Frequently Asked Copyright Questions
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ABOUT WENDY STETINA: Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path. |
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