Poor Man's Copyright

Nope, doesn't work. That kind of copyright will never hold out on a court case. More knowledgeable people will come and explain why But I can tell you that poor man's copyright doesn't work.

Sorry, no. The legal standing of poor man's copyright is a myth partly because the ease with which it could be faked and partly because only registration of copyright is admissable as proof when suing for damages.

Poorman's copyright, and derivations thereof, like sending yourself a CD, don't work.

It's totally bogus. You have copyright from the moment you start writing, until you sign a contract that gives all or part of your rights away, temporarily or permanently.

Poorman's copyright is a waste of time and effort. Read the Copyright FAQ.

Poor

Poor man's copyright was a valid way of protecting your work just about a hundred years ago. It hasn't been valid since, but it's one of those myths that simply refuses to die.

But, trust me, no one, anywhere, wants to steal your work. There's nothing anyone could do with it, even if they did steal it. And nothing personal, but it isn't worth stealing. No novel is worth stealing until after it's been published, and is on the bestseller list.

There are six million unpublished novels out there, and no one wants to steal any of them, either.

Except for mine.

I'm on to you, James.

But, but, but... mine is BRILLIANT!


Y'all just jealous of my genius™!!

I'm just gonna leave my book here on the table and look the other way. If none of you try and steal it I will be very very insulted. [folding arms and looking cross]

I went to steal it, but it was full of words and it was too heavy, so I watched TV instead. Sorry.

***YONK***

(Universal I-just-stole-your-manuscript sound)







Ummm....when do you want it back?

First sell it to sell it to a major publisher, then get back to me.

Silly Monkey! NOw you have to try to sell it as yours! And pass it off. That means you need to send queries (hard work) to a lot of agents and publishers, which will take quite a lot of time and effort and in the end, if someone maybe buys it, then maybe later down the road you can make a small pittance!

OR...

You can steal Veinglory's watch instead. Same money, faster turnaround, and it's a Rolex. Whoa!

Actually its a classic StARCK Fossil watch, and you can't have it.

Duh, that's why I'm having Monkey steal it.

***YONK***
***YONK***
***YONK***
***YONK***
***YONK***

I stole all your manuscripts. What are you going to do about it?!

*tries to run but staggers and falls under the weight of the wordy manuscripts*

Damn...foiled again.

Sorry to derail your thread, Live2Write...we get a little silly sometimes. But you got some great advice...just write it and try to sell it, no one is going to steal it.

Good luck!

kristie911 said:

I stole all your manuscripts. What are you going to do about it?!

Click to expand...

Play video games.

Sucker.

*Reclaims manuscript and leaves Kristie laying where she fell.*

PeeDee said:

Except for mine.

I'm on to you, James.

Click to expand...

Darn! I was just reaching for your manuscript, too. I coulda been a millionaire.

six million dollar man, what?

Jamesaritchie said:

Darn! I was just reaching for your manuscript, too. I coulda been a millionaire.

Click to expand...

You would have been, too, since all my ideas are 100% unique, and no one has ever had my title before.

And as soon as I scrape together the money to pay my publisher, the book will be available to the world.

Odd...my watch is still on my wrist. Carrie is not as good as she thought.

Look again. It's painted on! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

That BIoTCH stole my Tag. And painted on a Casio!

get back here!!!!!

That wasn't a pen. You owe me five dollars, and an explanation.