So i heard of copyrighting through mail...by sending yourself the pics or words of something you did..

Question

Is that true (example I did a painting. If i took a picture of it and mailed it to myself is it copyrighted?) and if it doesnt work then what steps can I take?? THANKS ;-)

Answer 1

not nessicarly but it is a form of copyright, it gives you the proof that you did it before someone else with  the date and stuff on the photo and since it was sent in the mail i think there should be a date on the envalope  but dont open it and take the pic out

Answer 2

In 163 countries copyright exists the moment you make something original, like a piece of artwork.

The problem is when someone rips you off and then you have to prove that the copyright was yours and not someone elses. It's not good enough to just email pictures to yourself as the postmark could be too easily forged as others have said. You need to have something that is independent. Unfortunately, the US copyright office is expensive to send in lots of different pictures of your work in progress and obviously even worse if you don't live in the US, like me!

If you have a digital version of your work in progress pictures, you can upload them to a special webpage and they fingerprint them and record the time you uploaded. This means that you have an independent record showing when you made it. No one will be able to argue with that! :)

I use a service called http://www.provemycopyright.com because you get 1Gb of space to upload lots of your workss, even if they are in draft or different stages.

Hope it helps

Answer 3

An artist holds the original copyright to all original works he or she creates, from the moment they are finished.  A copyright protects you from others using your image for their own gain without your permission.   One of the best ways to document that a work is your original idea is to have someone photograph you working on it in various stages.  Many sculptors who work in bronze (where they have several copies issued per mold) do this to prevent misuse of their designs and fraud, and to demonstrate their methods for potential clients.  But further documentation for artists is not necessary.

Always be prepared, though, to show proof that you did not use a copyrighted work or photo in your own work.  Many art contests now regularly ask for reference materials for questionable works.  For example, most of us do not live near polar bears or penguins. . . .so a beautiful watercolor of these endangered species might raise eyebrows as to where you got your images from!  If you can show a photo you took at the zoo,  or a photo you substantially changed when you incorporated it into your artwork, you will likely be fine!

Answer 4

A work is copyrighted at the moment of creation.  If you created an original work of art, you are the copyright owner.  By law, no one else can use that image without you expressed permission or license.  It is that simple.

However, enforcement of your copyrights is strictly up to you.  You have to prove that the image is yours and then, get the pirates to stop using your image.  If they don't, you can take them to court to make them stop.

But, here is where the problem lies.  What do you have that proves the work is yours and not theirs.  The "poor man's" copyright of mailing the image to yourself proves nothing exept that you mailed it.  The postmark date only proves when the work was mailed, not when or who created it.

The only real, legal protection against infringement is in REGISTERING the copyright with the government copyright office.  Even then, this registration only proves who first sent in the registration.  That is why one should register the copyright as soon as possible, and, CERTAINLY before the work is published in ANY form including on the web.   If the artist does not do this, and someone else steals the image and registers it first, I'm afraid this is the only "proof" of ownership that the court will recognize.

Do you see the problem with mailing it to yourself?  You create it and mail it to yourself.  Some other person copies it and registers it with the government.  In court, all you can prove is that you mailed it to yourslef.  How is the judge going to know that you didn't steal it and THEN mailed it?  The registration is the key, in only with the copyright registered, can you collect damages from the other person.

Official US government copyright office site:

http://copyright.gov