The Cheapest Way I Know to Copyright

codewizard said:

I'm amazed that anyone still believes this.

1. It WILL NOT stand up in court. Whoever told you the story, lied.
2. You will be laughed at for trying it.
3. If you don't register a copyright (copyright office in the US), you have little recourse, as NO ATTORNEY will take your case unless you can pay a HUGE retainer.

This "cheap" copyright method, will be VERY costly if you try it.

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You're dead one regarding this urban myth and it's even covered under Wikipedia under the "Poor Man's Copyright". Also, the real issue isn't protection under copyright law but it's the cost of pursuing protection since most jurisdictions require the copyright holder to bear the cost of enforcing copyright.

Heard of this method before although haven't used it.
Check out

Folks this does not work! From Wikipedia:

Poor man's copyright


A widely circulated strategy to avoid the cost of copyright registration is referred to as the "poor man's copyright". It proposes that the creator send the work to himself in a sealed envelope by registered mail, using the postmark to establish the date. This technique has not been recognized in any published opinions of the United States courts. The United States Copyright Office makes it clear that the technique is no substitute for actual registration. The United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office discusses the technique and notes that the technique (as well as commercial registries) does not constitute dispositive proof that the work is original nor who the creator of the work is.

Save yourself the envelope!

bertbaby said:

You're dead one regarding this urban myth and it's even covered under Wikipedia under the "Poor Man's Copyright". Also, the real issue isn't protection under copyright law but it's the cost of pursuing protection since most jurisdictions require the copyright holder to bear the cost of enforcing copyright.

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"copyright holder to bear the cost of enforcing copyright" - this here is the real issue with copyright. if you're oprah it would make financial sense to have an army of lawyers to enforce the copyright protection covering your work. if you're just an IMer not earning much then you really can afford it and should just move on.

Techxan said:

This does nothng. The only way to protect a copyright is to register it.

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They still copy your products. Not by this way will be the other ways.

Your automatically granted copyright anytime you write/publish something or click the shutter on a camera. Registering the copyright makes it easier to prove in court. Also, if someone does steal your content you need to make demonstrable effort to fix this in order to retain the copyright. Copyrights must be "defended" similarly to real estate and squatters.

indeed, that's why i've been mailling one unsealed envelope to myself everyday... :clap2: u never know

urban legend

Yes save yourself the envelope, you could send you a email with outlook and achieve the same result, since outlook databse cant really easily be hacked ....

This method works as even copyrighting something takes hell of a long time. ha ha..

If you want a copyright SUIT...then you need a registered copyright. You have the right to claim copyright to any work immediately that is on/in a tangible medium....BUT you can not file suit against another party until you take steps to register. There are 2 legal viewpoints on this. One says that registration must be complete and the other that only application needs be filed. No decisive court opinion has thwarted the other as yet so jurisdiction is HIGHLY important. Technically DMCA violations can't go to court for a copyright suit UNTIL the prerequisites are met. By that time, time deadlines may have been blown as the government is sloooow as Christmas.

Now granted, if you steal an image of some 16 year old artist's website and they send you a DMCA notice...you can bet that you can pretty much wipe your azz with it. BUT, governed by my "Don't be a Dick" policy, I would hope that you'd simply honor the request and remove the illgotten media from your site, there are no shortage of undefendable images out there to take.

The Poor Man's Copyright is not completely invalid tho, it's just not a copyright defense. What I mean is that it is still useful supporting evidence if your case is that another wrongfully filed copyright i.e. STOLE your property. But this is only supporting evidence and the burdon of proof that a theft occurred is solely upon your shoulders. But an officially dated hermetically sealed envelope will still prove that an item or work was in your presence on a given date. Should there copyright be upheld, it is arguable that that same envelope will evidence possession of proprietary information or ideas of "THEIRS".
But, contrary to popular myth, this Ghetto Copyright is not the same as (for instance) fighting a time barred debt where you as the debtor literally only have to site the statue of limitations for an immediate dismissal....if you show up with your envelope as your sole defense it will not be admitted into evidence and you will lose your case. Ghetto is only good if you're a drug dealer or a rap star, other than that the term still refers to CRAP...and if you intend to use a Ghetto Copyright as "proof of ownership/creation" than that's effectively what you have....CRAP.

Congrats on settling out of court, but I fear that your (Gas $$$) reference may be all too true and to the point as all the opposing parties were avoiding was the probable $10,000 it would take to enter a court room...even if they had a solid case or defense against you. The fact that you settled out of court DOES NOT denote that you have a significantly shored up or even defend-able legal position... only that those against you backed down.

not working...tried it once..!!

Anyone knows how works ASCAP?

Take something and cover your head with it, that way you use it AS CAP.

those guys who copy content by others will not go anywhere, he will take away some of your shares but not that big

Only suggestion about this issue from a different standpoint is dont focus on it much.. give it an hour a day and focus on building your site more and more to make it more profitable.

I have never heard of this method by the OP.
I have read the whole thread. It seems like it works for some people only and don't work for others.
Method seems risky to use.

It works only sometimes. But it's not working when you have to deal with international companies headquartered in some european or asian countries. Nothing could be better than registration