Copyright of written original material

woodforthefire

Hi All,

I've written a novel and I am wondering if anyone knows how I can got about copyrighting the material here in Ireland?

To be honest I'm not sure if this question is correct - is it a case that copyright already exists and that I need to register it?

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

NoQuarter

If you have written it and its your own work, it gets automatic copyright for the rest of your life and 70 years further.

Enjoy.


Also, if you want to "read all about it", just google the "Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000".

the_syco

NoQuarter wrote: »

If you have written it and its your own work, it gets automatic copyright for the rest of your life and 70 years further.

I think the OP means how do they prove that they wrote it, should someone else publish it under a different author?

woodforthefire

Thanks for the reply guys and I will read 'Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000'

Are there any steps that I can take to prove copyright in the future?

I had read some stuff online about registering - e.g. at http://1106design.com/how-do-i-copyright-my-book/ - but not sure if something similar is required in Ireland.

To be more specific though, although copyright is automatic, what if in say ten years, some guy says that he wrote it.

Where is my proof?

Thanks again

mooonpie

woodforthefire wrote: »

To be more specific though, although copyright is automatic, what if in say ten years, some guy says that he wrote it.

Where is my proof?

One method I've heard of (for song lyrics, but don't see why it would be any different) is to send a copy to yourself by registered post, when it arrives don't open it and file it away, if originality is contested you have the registered package as dated proof.

No idea how it holds up legally, but it always seemed like a simple solution to me.

woodforthefire

Thanks moonpie9588,

Sounds like a logical approach and certainly something I'll do straight away.

Excellent advice and much appreciated.

NoQuarter

woodforthefire wrote: »

Thanks moonpie9588,

Sounds like a logical approach and certainly something I'll do straight away.

Excellent advice and much appreciated.

or file a copy with a solicitors to keep in their safe.

Carawaystick

Or both, though I've heard that the registered post thing doesn't hold much water from reading the internets ( may be more relevant to American states)

berrypendel

woodforthefire wrote: »

Hi All,

I've written a novel and I am wondering if anyone knows how I can got about copyrighting the material here in Ireland?

To be honest I'm not sure if this question is correct - is it a case that copyright already exists and that I need to register it?

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

your copyright exists from the moment of creation. Not sure where you would register it though filing a copy with a solicitor, as someone said would possibly help. Ask the solicitor first. i was told the "send to your self by regd mail" idea by someone in the UK who had studied law but I do not know if it stands up here or indeed anywhere

Flincher

As has been mentioned, you already have copyright in the material you have produced, and your issue is how you would prove when you created the copyright material if somebody was to infringe your copyright.

Both filing with your Solicitor, or sending a copy to yourself via registered post would help you show when you created your work. You could also have a look at unofficial copyright registers, and they can provide you with a certificate of when your work was filed with them.

https://secure.copyrightservice.co.uk/ is one of these registers

jblack

Or you could quite simply publish your work,

If that sounds complicated then talk to an English Department in a University.

wazzoraybelle

I have heard that emailing the work to yourself can establish proof of copyright.

berrypendel

wazzoraybelle wrote: »

I have heard that emailing the work to yourself can establish proof of copyright.

doubt that given ho w easy it is to spoof email

woodforthefire

Thanks for all your help on this. Much appreciated!!