So, you've just finished your brand new ebook, and you want to make sure that it isn't copied or distributed without your permission.
Basically, you want to protect your 'right to copy' your ebook or, as it's more commonly known, your copyright.
Before we begin, I must point out that this information is only intended to act as an introduction to the concept of copyright. Please be aware that I'm not a legal expert. If you've any doubts regarding copyright then you should seek legal advice.
Okay, let's get started...
Part 1: Establishing Your Copyright
As we've just seen, copyright is the name given to the protection of your 'right to copy' a published work.
When you own the copyright to a work, you own the exclusive right to reproduce any number of copies of that work in any way you choose. You can also, if you wish, grant that 'copy right' to others.
Once you create a published work, your copyright to that work applies automatically. You don't need to formally register your copyright in order for it to legally exist. In fact, you don't even need to place a copyright statement on the work.
Having said that, it's still a good idea to formally register your copyright.
In the event that someone has stolen you work, having registered your copyright may entitle you to claim for compensation from the offender. If you haven't formally registered the work, then legally seeking redress can be much more difficult.
For a closer examination of this important point, and others, I recommend reading the articles available on the ClickAndCopyright.com website.
If you don't want to invest money formally registering your copyright, then the next section is or you...
Part 2: The Minimum You Should Do
If you're reluctant to pay fees, then there are other measures you can take to make sure that the world knows who owns your work. In fact, you should follow these steps EVEN if you DO register copyright.
Including a copyright statement in your ebook is no guarantee that your work will not be stolen. It's also no guarantee that you'll be able to recover royalties or loss of income from someone who illegally distributes or sells your ebook.
However, it DOES stamp the work as being yours. It makes it clear to those who might be tempted to copy it, that they don't have that right.
Here's an example of a copyright statement you can use...
Copyright 2009 Your Name (or company name).All rights reserved worldwide.No part of this ebook may be copied or sold.
Note: Some people use (c) (the letter 'c' in brackets) instead of the official copyright symbol (the letter 'c' surrounded by a circle). In some countries the law doesn't recognize this as an official copyright symbol -- and it's not certain that a court will accept it as valid. You should ALWAYS write the word 'Copyright' in FULL as part of your statement and you should always use the official symbol.
Another step you can take is to include a copyright page in your ebook. Take a look at the copyright information in any ebook (or paper book) for ideas on what you should include on this page.
One final idea that may be useful (from a legal point of view) is to print out a copy of your ebook on paper and save a copy on to a storage device like a USB key.
Place both the printed copy of the ebook together with the USB key in an envelope and then mail it to yourself via REGISTERED mail. Be sure to hold on to the receipt for the mail. Then, when the package arrives to your home, put it away in a SAFE place (together with the receipt) WITHOUT opening it.
This is proof that you had the document in your possession at the date of the mailing. If you do this before your ebook goes 'live' then you're certain that nobody can have copied your work before this date.
Okay, I hope that this has helped you understand the question of copyright a little better.
Before signing off, here are a few websites where you can learn more...
-The Publishing Law Center: PubLaw.com-The Copyright Website: Benedict.com
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