Is it expensive to copyright something...I took a picture in

[Stuart G]

l981 or 2. It is a keeper..someone has used it as a masthead for an event. With my permission.
How would I copyright it so it is mine and cannot be used for profit or by anyone else without my permission...thanks..if anyone knows...Stuart

[LisaM]

1. It's pretty cheap and easy

and you can do it yourself.

Go to http://www.copyright.gov and you should be able to find the forms.

[Schema Thing]

2. No, it's free.

In the sense that your picture was essentially copyrighted to you the instant you took it, and still is unless you have signed an agreement to transfer the rights to someone else.


You can however register the picture as your copyright for a modest fee. But registered or not, no one can legally use your picture w/o your permission.

[LisaM]

3. It's true that copyright rights accrue by existence

But you can get a huge leg up collecting legal damages, etc. by registering it. And it only costs $35.

[arcadian]

4. It pretty much has a copyright by you simply making that claim.

It's enforcing it that is the tough part. You have to first find out that somebody is using your stuff with out your permission, track them down, go to court, etc. I have had a ton of my stuff lifted off of the internet. It sucks.

[no name no slogan]

5. ^ THIS ^. You already copyrighted it when you took it. Now, you want to REGISTER it

You already own the copyright the second you create it. What you need to do is register the copyright with the government.

http://www.copyright.gov/ should have all you need to know about that.