Copyright my book?

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• January 19, 2009 @ 8:14pmmasterjedi228 says:

  I just recently finished an original novel and was looking into getting it published. Do I need to get it copyrighted before I send it to a publisher or editor? If so, how do I go about this? Thanks for any info.
• January 20, 2009 @ 12:18pmksmith says:

  Your novel is protected from the moment you "fixed it in tangible form," i.e wrote it on paper or in a computer's memory. So it already is "copyrighted." Nevertheless, there are some advantages to registering your copyright. You must register, for example, prior to taking someone to court for infringing your work. And if you register promptly, you retain the ability to collect certain kinds of damages and fees from an infringer.
  
  It is easy to register your novel using the forms found on the Copyright Office web site -- www.loc.gov. The fee, if you submit the form online, is only $35.00. You will also be asked to send two copies of your work to the Library of Congress for deposit in their collection.

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