How Do You Copywrite Material?
A copyright can be registered for materials that are both published and unpublished. It protects your original works from being used without your permission. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, all materials are automatically copyrighted when they are “created and fixed in a tangible form.” For example, writing a poem on a piece of paper creates an automatic copyright. If you register your material with the U.S. Copyright Office, however, you have a proven, registered copyright you can use to protect your work during legal proceedings. Register an account with the Electronic Copyright Office on the U.S. Copyright Office website (see the link in the Resource section). Click on the label marked “eCO Login.” If you have never registered a copyright online before, click on “If you are a new user, click here to register.” Fill in the requested information to create your account. This information includes your full name, email address, selected user name and password. You must also creat
