How to Copyright Your Work : How to Get a "Poor Man's" Copyright

[Jizbox11]

As stated by many viewers, the (PMC) poor man's copyright is in no way legal proof of copyright ownership. PMC is a myth. Nor can you copyright an idea. Thoughts are not regulated by the government, there is no thought police/lawyer (...yet).

I suggest anyone looking to copyright there work to file one. They're $35-50. Save yourself some trouble and just do it the right way to protect yourself LEGALLY. That's not to say (PMC) is illegal, it's just a waste of time and has no legal value.

[Brebreberryful]

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[CalderPegden]

unfortunately this WILL NOT protect your material. Anyone can send an empty unsealed envelope to themselves and put stuff in it later.

[TedNewsom]

It costs 35 bucks to properly gegister a script, a film, a song, a novel, a painting or whatever. Nathan-- this is ludicrous, suggesting that this pointless exercise will ever protect anybody from anything-- or prove any date of creation.

[maggieman]

I think the idea is that there is a record of the specific idea having been mailed at some point, however long before the "interloping" idea was conceived.

[realchickrealshit]

sorry, but this just sounds really ridiculous. i thought he was actually going to say something helpful, but i'd rather just stick to the tried and true method of emailing yourself a copy of your work. i know that's not a whole lot better, but it shows the exact time and date of your work in your email and u just file it away under a specified folder--that is, if dnt hav the money for a proper copyright. this video is giving u no advice at all.

[coxkid2000]

all of you are wrong this is actually a good idea! because it will have a offical sealed envelope stamp of when the song came out! you got undeniable proof in a envelope from lets say since today is august 12th 2011, i would send it in, and they would send it back officially stamped August 12th, 2011. Does that not make sense?! please think about it!

[Onaku07]

@coxkid2000 nowadays its better to do it online, so much easier and without the hassle of sending out anything through the mail in regards to music.

[menderfire9]

This is expertvillage, it has had a reputation for bad or stupid advise for many years! Don't expect much out of anything you see or hear on expertvillage. Somethings are very good (very few) you're rolling the dice too much on this channel.

[sergurgegmailcom]

Check out the facts:

This information is a DIS-service to those who think they are being correctly informed--Wrong! There is no protection under a "poorman" copyright which doesn't exist. You get what you pay for people.

[Onaku07]

If anybody wants to know how to copyright their music, just drop me a message & I can help ya'll out!

[HiramsChannel]

@Onaku07,, I want to know tell more about how I can copyright my music.

[Onaku07]

@HiramsChannel check your inbox mi dear, I sent ya a message with the details.

[raven7Mason]

Poor mans copy just needs to have detailed information in relationship to the work such as who created it first.

[POBox1999]

1) Mail yourself an unselaed envelope post marked today.

2) When you eventually decide to steal someone else's copyrighted material, just write it up, stick it in the envelope and seal it.

And there you go, something that will never hold up in court. Want a copyright? then apply for one

[SOLISJOEL]

Great idea, unfortunately, this will not hold up in court at all. The only proper way to copyright your musical idea is by filling out a PA or SR form and paying the library of congress fee. 

[MrJacobkip]

How do I mail a digital video game to myself?

[AGgirldoll]

@MrJacobkip Print the code out onto paper.

[FspEntMr2Hood151]

im bout to try this shit

[FspEntMr2Hood151]

ill choke a nigga out for my work..............

[919350829705]

fantastic, great

[919350829705]

fantastic

[OfficialPageOfVoice]

You can't email your work...? I thought if you email whatever you made like a logo or picture is it copyright....? I'm I wrong???

[shantelh]

nice helped me alot check out facebook shantelheart

[beansterman1998]

it needs the date on it tho

[AGgirldoll]

This video isn't so useful, so here's one. If you're planning to travel back in time and need to send a letter to someone in the same town but don't have any 14 cent stamps around, then write their address as the return and forget to put a stamp on the letter.

This way the post office will return it to the person you're trying to send it to for free.

[857frank]

@AGgirldoll If you could travel back in time to before someone copyrighted some work you could produce it then and copyright it yourself so he couldn't then copyright his work that you have already produced. Never mind Hollywood let’s make a time machine!

[AGgirldoll]

@857frank Unfortunately copyrighting work doesn't make money in itself. You still have to do actual work.

Best to stick with bringing back a newspaper with all the winning lottery numbers.

[WMGViolation]

You REALLY think that'll hold up in court. HAHAHA

-WMG

[AGgirldoll]

Sadly this video misses the fact that you cannot copyright an idea.

[hcvang]

@AGgirldoll ofcourse you can, once you manifest the idea physically.

[AGgirldoll]

@hcvang from copyright.gov

"Copyright does not protect ideas, concepts, systems, or methods of doing something. You may express your ideas in writing or drawings and claim copyright in your description, but be aware that copyright will not protect the idea itself as revealed in your written or artistic work."

[YungLC]

@AGgirldoll well damn...

[DynamiteKiwi]

im just a kid and im trying to publish a comic bok series...copyrights are confusing and expensive

[NeoMavarickThinkers]

@DynamiteKiwi Me and you are a lot a like.

[DynamiteKiwi]

@NeoMavarickThinkers cool. us be a rare breed. lol

[NeoMavarickThinkers]

@DynamiteKiwi lol is this how you copyrighted yours?

[DynamiteKiwi]

@NeoMavarickThinkers sadly...yes. for now

[857frank]

I've just copyrighted the word “the” and am in the process of suing everyone that's used it without paying me royalties.

[AGgirldoll]

@857frank I did the same thing with "End" Perhaps we could work together and sue all of Hollywood.

[857frank]

@AGgirldoll You did what same thing? To anyone else that would have been $50 for the use of “the“ but I like your idea so you're privileged.

[AGgirldoll]

@857frank Well I've already copyrighted the alphabet, so all words in use all ready belong to me anyway.

[seanjones87]

i heardd you can copyright your work just by stamping the symbol copyright on it how do you do it and where any comments?

[GenuineHeather]

@seanjones87 By law, the moment you fix your work in a tangible form--like writing it down, or recording it--you are the copyright holder. Registering your work with the Library of Congress is not necessary to "own" the work. Your work is copyrighted by law whether you register it or not. BUT--here's the catch. If somebody violates your rights under copyright law, you MUST have your work registered with the Library of Congress in order to pursue legal action or your case will be thrown out.

[seanjones87]

@GenuineHeather ok thank you i guess i need to go to congress and do it because i fear that anybody could steal my work

[seanjones87]

i heard that you can copyright your work just putting a stamp on your work and you can do it yourself, any ideas where can you can do it at any comments?

[d33balla]

the "poor man's copyright" will not hold up in court. how do they know that you didn't send yourself an empty envelope then the day of court put the already copyrighted music in the envelope and seal it then say it was sealed on the day of the stamp and claim it as your own. what are they gonna do go interview the postal workers to see if it was sealed? if you do a poor man's copyright your are giving away your music for someone else to take

[BIGSABMUSIC]

poor mans copywrite still works ? does it work on music or sound files too?

[Grandmaster31]

Im just wondering, if i were to write my lyrics down, and video the lyrics on paper on youtube, or on a video camera which shows the date, will that be good enough to stand up in court as a copyright, or wat bout if i email the lyrics to my hotmail, which will have the date on there as well

[tjcmusicpublisherbmi]

Totally agree with Castleproduc and the other people have commented.. I'm a music publisher thru BMI. It pays off to do things right. Get it copyrighted by the Copyright Office. Mailing it to yourself your setting yourself up for failure. The most it would hold up in court would be 2 seconds. The copyright office is now using the form CO instead of the PA. Learn how to Copyright mutliple songs on one copyright claim. If your not sure just give The Copyright Office a call (202) 707-3000 .

[MarvelousProductions]

this doesn't hold up in court guy.

[coolmakerful]

What a fuck man. I just wanna make a © Symbol but just with a (R).

[joesnotdead]

@coolmakerful COPYRIGHT THAT SHIT SON

[TheWaynelds]

why do you have to mail it? why cant you just envelope it and put it away? i love poogy?

[gameflamer]

the mailed envolope has a date on it i think? and has been recorded by the post office

[ShawnChalanT]

what about sending it thru certified mail or having a notery certify it?

[Banchuba]

That is bullshit!!!

You can send your self a open unvelope (you have not to close it for to send) - later you can put the unvelope that you need in the first unvelope and close the unvelope that you send your self.

So that is bullshit and has no rights in it for a copyright because you can put when ever you need it something in your 1000 unvelopes that you send you 10 years before :-) Dont trust them :-)

[redwoodthefox]

Even if it doesnt work it scares off people who would steal your work.

[41fevaoaklandyada]

the best poor mans copyright is send the mail not to your self but to your P.O. Box at the post office and keep it safe locked in their , walah that is the best brokemans copyright because the post office is holding your proof and backing you as evidence, hope this helps ppl.

[redwoodthefox]

thx.

[soryy708]

I wonder if israel has to send mail to U.S in order to get my tracks copyrighter...

[castleproduc]

The reason it doesnt really work is becuase courts dont give fuck about the copyright unless it is trough congress, most people think sending to yourself will work, it really doesnt, i went to school for music production and law, this is a myth, its a great thought but reality is it wont hold up in cort unless it has that seal of congress on the copyright sheet.

[scottbarnettmusic]

I couldn't agree with you more castleproduc!

[ojideagu]

In the UK you dont register copyright you have it automatically when you create something. The poor mans copyright is a lot more powerful here.

[myspacceer]

it'd be cool if that rule applied here too

[castleproduc]

yes here when a work is created it is considered copywritten, its just our court system dont rule in favor to "the poor mans copyright" i wish it did here

[lieod]

Ok please answer me this if i wanted to copyright a name but i made an acount on a website with the user name the same, can i still copywrite it?

[macali2009]

Im trying to get a copyright for a production company, and its very difficult to get information on how to do it. I actually want to make videos with my own label on them, and stuff like that so, yeah, I need a copyright before I can actually put anything with my label on it because i really dont want people stealing my stuff.Or my friends' stuff thats working with me. My dad told me about this, but I guess he didnt know it doesnt hold up in court. Hes an ex cop tho so he should know anywyas.

[Smokin3215]

w w w [DOT]intellectlawgroup[DOT]com­/articles/poormans.html

Not good advice. The more poor you are, the more you need to protect your work properly. One main point that is lost is that statutory damages in copyright law is ONLY available if one registers with 3 months of first publication. Statutory damages ($700-30,000 per infringement) is usually alot more than actual damages with would be harder to prove and get.

[castleproduc]

wrong! my sir, those do not hold up in court at all! your just sending your self your copyright they need to be trough library of congress this video is showing people how to not win a case!

[Revolver8566]

why cant this work? how will you get aroudn it?

[ilovebritishbulldogs]

in the usa no in the uk yes

[Themanwithn0eyes]

Say if you post a sample on some site so people can critizised your story or whatever, how do you let them know it's protected by Poor man's Copyright?

[Smokin3215]

its best to pretend that it's registered properly with at least with a visual notice. A copyright symbol, the year of first publication, and you name would suffice.

Example:© 2007 Jane Doe

[1TYMness]

wait.....so when you mail it to yourself, you don't need a mailing address in the top left corner like you usually put when you mail someone? and if you put your music, do you put a cd with your music (or something else) and do you put only one song per cd or as many as you want? (sorry i am doing some copyrighting research for my own music)

[Themanwithn0eyes]

Actually it has to be on paper and in an envalope.