Where do i go, and how would i even begin to copyright my material.

[Philliph]

Its not just me, i have a few friends(and a close-to-done author friend) who are looking to get things copyrighted so they can start forums.

Where would we go and how would we copyright something? Help please.

[meg_evonne]

?? more details??  copyright a forum?  or copyright what you publish online?

[Philliph]

i dont exactly know, i think he wants to copyright what isn't published yet so he can make a forum for the people who already care. Hes making a videogame, but not necessarily on the making part yet. he's writing the script and only working on the modeling in his other 'me' time. We have a team of ten people so far, including me. would we need 'x' amount of pages completed before he can do it, or can he just go in with what he has and get it copyrighted in the unsaid place?

7 in the morning. fuzzy thinking.

[CSDylan]

I'm confused. You want to copyright a video game that isn't even past the drafting phase so that you can make a forum for the people working on it? Why not just make the forum, you don't need a copyright for that just use a password you only give it to the people on staff.
Now if you talking about getting a copyright so you can post it on a public forum then you're kind of SOL because someone could still steal it.

[Darwinist]

It may be off tangent from the OP, but I'm kinda interested in this also.

To jumpstart my writing again and keep me focused, I started posting whole chapters of my book online as I write them. Trying to get feedback from a few friends of mine who live out of state. I'm wondering, how concerned should I be about copyright here. I'm the intellectual property owner as they say in legal speak, but I've not copyrighted any of it or put any disclaimers on my website as such. For legal purposes and to avoid having someone plagiarize or rip me off - is this something I should do? And if so, can someone link me where I should look for the proper steps I should take.

I kinda get the idea that this is what the OP is looking for as well.

[LizW65]

Technically, anything you write (at least in the US, not sure about elsewhere) is copyrighted from the moment you write it.  The easiest way, though this really isn't recommended, is to put a copy of the manuscript in an envelope and mail it to yourself; when you get it back put the postmarked envelope, unopened, in a secure place such as a safety deposit box.  Here's a better way to do it:
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

[Philliph]

It may be off tangent from the OP, but I'm kinda interested in this also.

To jumpstart my writing again and keep me focused, I started posting whole chapters of my book online as I write them. Trying to get feedback from a few friends of mine who live out of state. I'm wondering, how concerned should I be about copyright here. I'm the intellectual property owner as they say in legal speak, but I've not copyrighted any of it or put any disclaimers on my website as such. For legal purposes and to avoid having someone plagiarize or rip me off - is this something I should do? And if so, can someone link me where I should look for the proper steps I should take.

I kinda get the idea that this is what the OP is looking for as well.

ARRRG
This is exactly what i was trying to ask. Perhaps the website for the forums itself should be passworded to prevent plagiarism.

Technically, anything you write (at least in the US, not sure about elsewhere) is copyrighted from the moment you write it.  The easiest way, though this really isn't recommended, is to put a copy of the manuscript in an envelope and mail it to yourself; when you get it back put the postmarked envelope, unopened, in a secure place such as a safety deposit box.  Here's a better way to do it:
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

Also very helpful. i appreciate the responses.

[Starbeam]

ARRRG
This is exactly what i was trying to ask. Perhaps the website for the forums itself should be passworded to prevent plagiarism.

Also very helpful. i appreciate the responses.

That won't necessarily prevent plagiarism.  I came across this article/blog http://howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com/2009/07/anti-plagiarism-day-friday-17-july.html earlier today.  Basically, someone on an online writing workshop plagiarized someone else's work.  Granted, it's an extreme case.  Also, I've seen some people say to be wary of posting online because of first publishing rights, cause some publishers/agents/whatnot consider internet publication to be a loss of that.  Though that does look to be something of a real gray area.

[Mickey Finn]

Technically, anything you write (at least in the US, not sure about elsewhere) is copyrighted from the moment you write it.  The easiest way, though this really isn't recommended, is to put a copy of the manuscript in an envelope and mail it to yourself; when you get it back put the postmarked envelope, unopened, in a secure place such as a safety deposit box.  Here's a better way to do it:
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

As I understand it, courts won't normally accept this as proof, as it can be faked. But it IS better than nothing.

[Apocrypha]

I have found that sometimes the safest way is to just not tell anyone about what you're writing.   

Mind you I've definately loosened up over the years but that impression started for me back in grade 3 when a teacher's aid edited my story all to crap and back.

[Mickey Finn]

That didn't even work for me.

I was a page into a story about a guy playing chess with Death because his psychic friend knew a plane was going to crash, so he and several of his friends stayed off...and now they were all dead but him...when I read a story on CHUD.com that two guys from the Xfiles were developing this movie called Final Destination, oh, and here's the concpet....

Trash Bin.

Same thing with Identity, although my idea was cooler. Another decade, I can probably write that one without a huge fuss, as it's different enough. But now? Too close.

[Shecky]

ARRRG
This is exactly what i was trying to ask. Perhaps the website for the forums itself should be passworded to prevent plagiarism.

Also very helpful. i appreciate the responses.

1) Passworded forums.
2) Required application and approval for membership in forums.
3) (not sure how you'd go about this one, but I've heard of it) Make sure your site content is NOT available to search-engine spiders.

That ought to cover any potential privacy issues.

[cygnus21]

Having worked in a Copy Center I've researched copyright law a little. In the US and work is automatically protected by copyright the instant that it is "fixed in tangible form" this could be on a computer, or physically written. Now the thing is you cannot receive damages for copyright infringement unless the work is registered with the library of congress. You could still get the court to stop the violator from using your work, they just won't award damages.

[meg_evonne]

1) Passworded forums.
2) Required application and approval for membership in forums.
3) (not sure how you'd go about this one, but I've heard of it) Make sure your site content is NOT available to search-engine spiders.

That ought to cover any potential privacy issues.

But in option 1 and 2, that assumes members would not plagerize your work, right?  Let's face it--I have two reading groups (with whom I have taken semester long on-line classes)and a great author blogspot that I frequent.  Still I don't know these people or that they won't to take advantage. 

We can't live in fear continuously; all we can do is take precautions.  Let's face it, without feedback we can't improve our craft.  I'm the most trusting soul out there.  I just posted my full YA manuscript to both groups (limited number and only people I've been in class with) and trust that they will honor my work and my friendship. 

Plus if they know me at all they'll know that my son has one more year of law school--plenty of time to sue their a**es.  LOL