Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Ohio

Re: Copywriting

We are dealing with two things, here: the creating of the copyright,

and the registration of the copyright.

Let us assume, for now, that we are talking about the written

expression of a poem.

Your copyright is created when the poem is written, as soon as

it is expressed.

To gain an extra measure of protection, you may choose to register

the copyright with the Copyright Office. This entails filling out

a form, writing a check for $30.00, and sending the form, the check, and a

copy of the poem to the Copyright Office. You can do this yourself.

See http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ , and look under Publications

for "Forms" and "Information Circulars" -- especially Form Letter FL106, entitled

Copyright Registration of Poetry.

See Circular 3 on use of the copyright notice.

Best of luck!

Steven Hill