Copyrighting a website

[dude8604]

I have a website, and I'd like to have the content copyrighted so that no one can (legally) copy it. Can I just write "copyright 2002" at the bottom and it is copyrighted or is there some legal procedure I'd have to go through?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Write copyright at the bottom. It's then copyrighted. If someone takes your stuff and puts your name on it, you'll have to go through legal stuff to get it on the official records that it's copyrighted before you can persue them.

But as long as you mark it copyrighted, it's copyrighted

nik

 

[dude8604]

Thanks

 

[gopunk]

it's copyrighted even without you writing the copyright stuff at the bottom.

 

[911paramedic]

Yes, it is copyrighted without even saying that it is, but do it anyways. If you really want to do it right you can send it to the copyright office (printed on single pages) and they will copyright it all for $30. If it is important enough you should do it that way, then there is an official record of when and who it really belongs to.

 

[kgraeme]

Ding, ding!!! Gopunk wins the prize!

Anything original that you create is automatically copyrighted. Protecting the copyright is where the problems start. Putting a copyright statement on it is a good start. The hard part though is establishing that you actually copyrighted it when you said you did. Having customers (witnesses) helps. A low-rent way is to print out a copy, mail it to yourself, and don't open the envelope. It will have a postmark with the date on it to establish when it was sent. Or you can register the copyright material with the Library of Congress copyright office.

BTW, trademark protection differs from copyright and is something you sould also look into for your site name and logo.

And since I have to, I'll point out that I am not a lawyer and that you should consult an intellectual property attorney for "real" information.

 

[DigDug]

Ha. Good luck trying to enforce a website copyright. I guarantee you won't be able to afford the legal fees, and probably won't win either.

That's just how it is, guys.


Here's a neat little trick that might help, although its nothing much at all: Copy the website to disk, seal it well in a box, go to the post office. Have them stamp the seal of the box, and mail it to yourself.