[macfantn]

I recorded a video that may air on a tv show, they want me to send them a copy on dvd for review. How do I copyright it to prevent them from using it without my permission?

[brassplayersrock²]

sorry about that, am looking in imovie/idvd to see if there is any sort of copyright imprinting available

[sek929]

You're thinking of Macgeek2005

[macfantn]

no swords of couches in my video sorry

[Millennium]

In terms of US law, technically it has a copyright already. However, it would be a good idea to register it with the Library of Congress before sending it to this company. The Copyright Office, in particular, is where you need to look. Although it costs money to register with them, your case will be much stronger if you actually have to take action.

[macfantn]

Originally Posted by Millennium 

In terms of US law, technically it has a copyright already. However, it would be a good idea to register it with the Library of Congress before sending it to this company. The Copyright Office, in particular, is where you need to look. Although it costs money to register with them, your case will be much stronger if you actually have to take action.

someone told me if I mail a copy of the video to myself it becomes copyright, as long as I don't open the package? I doubt I'll get much if any money out of this, so I probably am not going to go through the hassle, and the $45 fee to copyright it.

[Millennium]

Originally Posted by macfantn 

someone told me if I mail a copy of the video to myself it becomes copyright, as long as I don't open the package?

Not really. What it does do is prove that you had a copy of the video at the time the package was postmarked, and if that's before the video is aired that it can help your case. Formally registering the video's copyright really is a lot stronger, though.

[brassplayersrock²]

sorry, i tried to figure something out, but i'm coming up with nuffin

[reader50]

Send a copy to www.mpaa.org, and sign over the copyright while you are at it. Rest assured, they will enforce & protect your former copyright for you to the last dead grandmother.

[Buckaroo]

If you have a bunch of photos you would like to copyright also, just video tape them and include them at the end of the video that you copyright. You don't include the photos in the copy of the video DVD that you mail out to whomever, but it will allow you to copyright your video along with a bunch of photo's for one price. You will need to include a Copyright symbol, year and your name on all copyrighted material.

I am not a lawyer, and please confirm everything I posted with a real lawyer.

[OwlBoy]

Originally Posted by macfantn 

someone told me if I mail a copy of the video to myself it becomes copyright, as long as I don't open the package? I doubt I'll get much if any money out of this, so I probably am not going to go through the hassle, and the $45 fee to copyright it.

lol, mailing something to your self does not copyright it. It is just proof it existed before said time when the intellectual property is stolen. And with that, it might not even be 100% proof. Things can be forged.

-Owl

[red rocket]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy

lol, mailing something to your self does not copyright it.

It does in the UK. They told me at university, and I double checked with the Writers' Guild. Must be true, because there's no other way you can do it.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by red rocket 

It does in the UK. They told me at university, and I double checked with the Writers' Guild. Must be true, because there's no other way you can do it.

You're half right.

The second you create something you own the copyright on it - there's nothing additional you need to do to make sure. Copyright is bound to the creation or expression of an idea. In other words, you cannot copyright the idea for a painting but the second you put brush to canvas you own the copyright for the emerging work. This is true for Canada, the US and the UK too.

Mailing a copy of the work to yourself does not affect, or create, your copyright, it merely substantiates your claim that a copy of the work created existed when you claim it existed.

Most people worry far too much about copyright - unless your work is really outstanding there's almost no incentive for others to steal it. When I started my first company we went through great length to protect procedures - thee days we have far more of a 'just let them try' attitude towards it all.

[SSharon]

Originally Posted by Mastrap 

The second you create something you own the copyright on it - there's nothing additional you need to do to make sure. Copyright is bound to the creation or expression of an idea. In other words, you cannot copyright the idea for a painting but the second you put brush to canvas you own the copyright for the emerging work. This is true for Canada, the US and the UK too.

My property professor agrees with you. In the case of digital files that have time stamps all over them (especially if you backup to DVD regularly) I don't see the need to mail yourself anything.

[TETENAL]

There is nothing one has to do to copyright something. The author just has the copyright.

In the worst case scenario maybe you would have to prove that you are the author, but since you have the DV tapes and they have not, that's a no brainer.