A copyright is created the second a product is finished and put into a tangible, fixed form. All you need to do to get a copyright is to create something. It happens without any outside effort or certification.
Once your work exists in a fixed and tangible form, a copyright “magically” appears without any additional effort. Works are “born” with a copyright, much like individuals are born with their Constitutionally protected rights (for the most part) intact.
You dont have to register to have a copyright. You dont need to mail the document in question to yourself. You dont need to publish. You dont even have to place a notice on your work.
Even though the law is crystal clear on that matter, many myths about the actions necessary to secure a copyright remain in circulation. Many people, even those who are certainly trying to be helpful, continue to parrot information about the things you need to do to obtain a copyright for your work.
Disregard them. You have a copyright as a “natural” byproduct of creation.
However, that doesnt mean that some of the techniques myth-spreaders advocates dont have advantages. Again, they arent required to establish copyright. They do, however, create some unique benefits.
Well examine some of the issues commonly associated with obtaining a copyright in order to debunk common myths and to demonstrate why you dont NEED to do them to acquire a right, but may want to anyway
