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Copyright Information

Someday you may have to prove that you are the creator of your literary work. Here are some suggestions to protect yourself:

• Always put your full name on your finished original work (written or art). Follow this procedure whether you have handwritten (permanent ink, not pencil) or typed your work.
• Always date your work (written or art), whether handwritten or typed.
• Create on a computer if possible; it will be automatically dated in memory.
• Photograph your work with a camera that adds a date.
• Keep extra copies on paper (better yet on disk) in a safe place in case your original is damaged.
• Get your best work notarized and then mail it to yourself via Registered Mail. Don't open it. Place in a safe place. The postage date will verify the approximate time when you created the work.
• If you are interested in registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office, see Section 101. Title 17 of the United States Codes Copyright Laws, or check out their Web site at: http://www.loc.gov/copyright.
• Your original work does not have to be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office to be protected under the copyright laws.
• The word Copyright or the symbol © denotes the same thing.
• You can photocopy copyrighted work as long as the use of it comes within the boundaries of fair use as described under U.S. Copyright laws. Note: Copyright regulations should be posted on or near photocopy machines.
• You cannot copyright your ideas, only the expression of those ideas.
• The U.S. Copyright Office is located at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
• Further copyright information can be found on the Web site of the American Intellectual Property Law Association at: http://www.aipla.org/html/whatis.html
• Be careful of Poetry Contests, many aren't what you think they are. For information on literary scams check out http://windpub.org/literary.scams/free.htm

CONTESTS: Are They Legit?

Be careful where you submit your creative work. Here's a warning to all young poets to think twice before entering any contest that requires you to send money. Poetry contests have increased in popularity in recent years. These types of contests invite writers (usually amateur writers) to send in one or more samples of their writing for review by a panel of "expert judges." The word "experts" can mean other poets or writers, teachers, publishers, editors, or just contest staff members. These contests also have rules, which applicants must follow. These rules may include, but are not limited to some of the following:

• entry fee
• minimum age for entrants
• a limit to the number of words or lines to be written
• whether the entry should be handwritten or typed
• specific deadline dates to enter and when finalist will be announced
• information on prizes
• information on the organization, such as if they have had similar contests in the past, names of members of the organization
• contact information, address and/or telephone, fax, e-mail numbers
• After finalists have been notified and informed how they placed-first, second, or third place or honorable mention, they should then learn what prize they have won. Many poetry contests in addition to prizes also offer the winners the opportunity to have their work published in an anthology of poetry. How exciting it would be to see your work in print-bound in a book along with other winning poems.

However, many times it is not that simple. Many of these contests may require you to pay to have your work included in the anthology if you are a winner. And then they may tell you that you must buy a copy of the book in order to see your work in print.

You should not have to pay to enter a contest or have to pay to get your work published. Having to pay to purchase the book of anthology in which your work appears is also a questionable practice. But it is a common practice. After all, the contest organizers are in business to make money. But just remember, they most likely aren't selling the anthology in bookstores, only to you and the other poets whose work would appear in the anthology. And it has been reported some contest organizers publish all entries. After picking the three poems judged the best, the organizers classify everything else as "Honorable Mention," thereby selling the anthology to all entrants. If the contest is advertised in the media and/or on the Internet, there could be thousands of entrants. So poet beware! Before entering any contest, PT suggests that you:

1. Read contest rules carefully and ask questions.
2. Make sure the contest organizer has a legal address (confirm organizations exists).
3. Don't give personal information other than what is necessary.
4. Check with a teacher, your parents, the Consumer Guide, the Better Business Bureau.
5. Don't send any money to enter.
6. Only pay to purchase an anthology if you really want to see your work in print. Ask yourself, is your poem worth $50 or more to see it in a book?

* Reprinted from Positive Teens July/August 2000

More info:
http://windpub.org/submitting.htm
http://windpub.org/literary.scams/free.htm