Good question.

I recently googled the word ‘copyright’ and came up with a lot of information, as it pertains to ownership of one’s words, art, etc.

Basically, in the US, if you wrote it, it’s copyrighted. Of course, there’s a lot more to it, so check out the sites.

I’ve wondered, though, even if I do, through an agent, pay a fee, and officially copyright a piece - what is my protection and how is it enforced?

Suppose I took a poem written by one of the TWG members, and submitted it as my own in a local literary club contest. And let’s say I won. If I’m in it for the fifty dollar prize and publication in the local lit mag - I might get away with it, maybe forever. But with the internet and the shrinking world phenomenon, if I tried to further my newfound stardom, the chances of my exposure increase. Those who write - read.

I can hardly imagine a more dismal experience than to be held up to public derision as a thief of ideas or thoughts, whether in my own community, or on a larger stage.

As you mentioned, probably everything I’ve ever submitted on TeeBeeDee is stored on the internet, as well as the archives of the site. So I’m quite comfortable, that if, someday, “Jak Attack” becomes a major motion picture, I’m armed to do to battle.

In addition, I also place the little circle/c logo, along with my name, and year on anything I submit. Does this protect me any better? It’s doubtful. Does an extra chain lock on my front door guarantee to keep the burglars away?

Bmichael, 2008

(just in case anybody gets any ideas - darn, the logo didn't paste)

There is opportunity to lift any work - discussions, posts, prose, poetry, anything - from this and most any other site. Published works can also suffer the same fate. And even with protection, plagiarism can still occur: If it can be read, it can be taken.

So, yes, I have concerns, but most of what I post is to help me learn and improve as a writer and a person, so I assume the risk. Besides, I'm not sure anyone would want to lift what I post! :-D

Rest assured, if I knew of such an effort, I would pursue all avenues, including legal remedies, to stop it, and if necessary, punish the individual(s) in whatever way possible (copyright infringement most likely).

For those interested in basic information about plagiarism, copyright infringement and public domain, see these wiki links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

Back in my younger days - circa October or November, 2007, I posted an entire day's copyright research - only 2 comments, whoopee!../ kick me, but you are beating a dead horse here, no one cares; if it's on the net, it is fair game... thus I hope true & fictional stories have the (c) before them when posted by authors, even with avatar names, printed and mailed to self are proof of original copyright ...

Blessings,

moi

My suspicion is that this presence on the net is as much of a blessing as it is a curse, since the web site serves as a means of proving date of "copyright". I am not concerned about my materials being stolen, but thought since the other poster had raised this issue, it might be worth putting up for discussion. (Sorry if it seems like a dead horse, for some of us it is a horse of a different color, I suspect.

Call me a piebald pony, WS,

and lostmutt and BMichael are rightfully concerned, but I thought my discourse back when I was younger then would have covered it...

What is old is new, what is new is old; there is nothing new under the sun (Proverbs)... mmmm. but you, WS, have a tickle I haven't felt before...

Blessings,

moi

Goodness, LanSr, I'm not exactly sure what you mean there, but I do appreciate that you have been through this before. Is there a thread I should look for to see what you have written? For those of us newer people, we can not always discover what has already been discussed.

BTWI hope it tickles good!

Look under copyright, and somewhere in there, I'll be... (teehee, you tickle quite nicely(!)