Katwalk Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Hi everyone, Just finished my first children's book - it's very original. I want to protect my ideas and have already sent a printed copy back to myself - probably not the best way to prove that I created the idea if needed. Does anyone know if it's worth using the UK Copyright Service on https://secure-b.copyrightservice.co.uk/forms/register/online and paying the £37 to get a certificate? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karis Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Hi there Sending a printed copy back to yourself really means nothing. But my advice: forget worrying about people stealing your ideas and just concentrate on selling your book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katwalk Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Yes, why not! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Rich Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Yes, why not! Thanks. How do you plan to get it published? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katwalk Posted September 11, 2009 Author Share Posted September 11, 2009 I'm planning on finding an agent before approaching a publishing house. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L00b Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Does anyone know if it's worth using the UK Copyright Service on https://secure-b.copyrightservice.co.uk/forms/register/online and paying the £37 to get a certificate?You already own the copyright in your book, copyright arises automatically by Law in the UK (CDPA 1988, Google it) and most other jurisdictions. That certificate will have about as much value as mailing it to yourself (there is no Official Register of copyright in the UK). Only you'll be £37 out-of-pocket instead of about £1. Both will amount to very little in terms of evidence, in any eventual proceedings. The best you can do practically, is mark your book (and pages, and in any form, i.e. both in print and in the electronic file) with the 'c-in-a-circle' symbol, yearspan of creation (e.g. 2007-2009 if you started in 2007, or just 2009 if you only wrote it this year) and your name. Microsoft Word automatically converts © into the 'c-in-a-circle' symbol. Realistically, forget about suing other people who might 'steal' your book: (i) copyright only protects your written words and/or illustrations, not the idea ('the plot') of the book, and (ii) copyright litigation often is vastly more expensive and uncertain than other forms of Intellectual Property. Congratulations on your book, btw. And follow Karis' suggestion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katwalk Posted September 11, 2009 Author Share Posted September 11, 2009 Great thanks L00b. You deserve a medal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karis Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Great thanks L00b. You deserve a medal! Oy! I said the same thing in only 20 words! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L00b Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 Oy! I said the same thing in only 20 words! You only get a third of the marks, because you didn't explain how you arrived at your conclusions :hihi: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karis Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 I try to restrict myself to as few words as possible! The key thing here is not to worry as you can get really wrapped up in worrying about protecting your idea. I've had ideas and even whole paragraphs of my work stolen (some stuff by a very large company), but on the whole, it's just not worth the hassle of worrying about it. I hate to say it, Katwalk, but I would be very surprised if your idea was genuinely new. Not trying to diminish it in any way, but there are just so many books out there; everything has been done before in one fashion or another, and it's impossible to read everything. So, with that in mind, all you can do is forget about what HAS been done and concentrate on presenting your book is the best light possible and delivering the tightest manuscript you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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