South Flatland Fiction

Are you concerned that your work will become public property once it's released into cyberspace or onto the bookshelves of the world? Worry no more, because as long as your work is written down or in another tangible form, it is protected.

Copyright is a protection, by law, against anyone reproducing, selling, or copying your original work. As long as you have a written or taped copy of your work, this in itself offers you copyright protection without the need to go through the U.S. Copyright Office.

The advantages of getting an official copyright comes when there is a need to prove ownership in a court of law, and to establish a public record as to ownership. You also have copyright protection that lasts your lifetime plus fifty years. In addition, you have the option of copyrighting a work in either your real name or a pseudonym.

There are a number of things not covered by copyright: symbols, lettering, or works considered common property. More information can be found at the following sites: www.parapublishing.com or www.freelancer-magazine.com.

Do you know the difference between copyright, trademark, and patent? Copyright gives you protection for your original work; Trademark protects titles, words, and names as well as designs or logos used for identification of goods and services; Patents protects inventions.

More information can be obtained by calling the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or the U.S. Copyright Office. Look in your phone book under government listings for the office nearest you.