Linuxdirk wrote:Devy wrote:What is that copyright?
It is irrelevant outside the United States. The sign doesn't have any legal relevance in jurisdictions around the world.
It would (in the US), were you to pay a (couple hundred bucks if you use a lawyer) or anywhere from $40-100US if you do it yourself, per item you want to copyright.
Copyright laws are complicated and, if you plan to copyright a number of works, best to probably have a lawyer handle it.
And yes, you have to pay an application fee, per official, legal copyright, per item or, piece of code/art/manuscript,etc., you wish to be protected by copyright laws.
It only makes sense, and is worth the $ 'if' someone violates the copyright. But then, you also have to find a lawyer or, have one on retainer (a retainer can be from $1500 to $5,000.00US), and that..., is just to have them on standby, and might last through 'possibly' one weeks worth of 'lawyerly kinda stuff', depending on the case and the amount of time spent (and they account for every minute, and round up to the nearest minute/half hour/hour)
The biggest things to consider going such a route..., is the probability/likelyhood of someone or some company trying to profit from your labour, and creativity.
Slapping a simple (c) on just about anything, is one of the leading scams/ (more like bluffs), going.
And it occurs around the world..., and is even a method or 'scare tactic' of some rather large businesses.
Just the symbol alone, is usually enough to deter a would-be violator (why risk the chance, right?) because 'if' the mark is legit..., you stand to lose a lot, financially, and reputation wise... (not a good risk for any company)
Anyway, It would be safe to venture, that not many works around here with the ole' (c) or other various means of portraying it, are legitimately, legally covered under an official copyright.
But..., always best to be safe, than sorry and besides..., even better, is to be respectful toward other skilled/creative people in the first place.
If I slap a copyright symbol on anything I do, and you violate the copyright..., the only way I can do anything about it is..., if I have a legitimate copyright to back that symbol up.
There is no possibly way you can 'violate' my copyright, if I don't actually have one on record.
Oh yeah and..., that copyright on record, must have been on record, prior to any violation of it.
I cannot use the symbol, without an actual copyright, and then go make it official after someone 'violates' it.
TO repeat..., the official, on record copyright, MUST predate the violation.
