: Is copyright implied when you self publish? So my understanding of copyright (which isn't much to be honest) it costs money to apply for copyright. and i can get that publishers probably do

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Ditto @DaleHartleyEmery . Copyright is a form of property right. You don't have to apply for the right to live in your own house and lock the door against strangers, you just have it. Same with copyright.

Yes, it costs money to register a copyright, but not that much. In the U.S., I think my last book cost me to register, plus you have to send the copyright office two copies of the book. You just fill out a form, which today you can do on-line, and send them the fee.

There are two big advantages to registering your copyright.

(a) It is strong evidence that you did indeed write the book on the date you claim. If you don't register, someone who steals your book could claim that he wrote it, and how would you prove otherwise? I often hear people talk about various schemes to prove they wrote the book, like mailing a copy to themselves and never opening the envelope, leaving a copy with a lawyer, etc. None of these alternatives have the same weight in court as registering, and many are more trouble and/or expense than registering.

(b) It gives you extra legal protection. For example, in the U.S., if you don't register your copyright, you can sue for actual damages, but not for punitive damages. i.e. if someone steals your book and costs you 00 in lost sales, without registering, you could get your 00 back. With registering, you could get 00 plus possibly another 00 in punitive damages plus if you're lucky you could make them pay your lawyer's bill. (I am not a lawyer, this is just an illustrative example.)

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Depending on where you live, you own the copyright to a written work the instant you write it. (See Berne Convention.)

You don't have to apply for copyright. You already own the copyright. There may be legal benefits to registering your copyright with your government. In the US, for example, when you sue someone for copyright infringement, you may gain additional legal remedies if you registered your copyright before you brought the suit.

If you live in the US, get a copy of The Copyright Handbook by NOLO Press.

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