Re: Online Copyright Registration

On Fri, 27 Mar 1998, Amy Stoller <redherring[_at_]tuna.net> wrote:
>
> A couple of theatre discussion groups have received a post touting the
> services of this outfit:
>
> http://www.registering.com/copyrights/
>
> I'd be grateful for reactions from our on-list professionals.

It's certainly in error on some points, e.g.:

     If you are from a country other than the United States, please note
     that by treaty official U.S. Copyright registration also provides
     copyright protection for authors residing in approximately 100
     countries.

This is wrong. The nations listed are simply those that have a reciprocal copyright agreement with the US (i.e., signatories to the Berne Convention or the Universal Copyright Convention). Both of those treaties provide for national treatment of copyrighted works; that is, each nation will apply its own law, without regard to national origin of the work. In other words, whether or not you register in the U.S. is irrelevant to protection in those countries.  

> Is this business on the level?

It doesn't seem to understand its own service. It's charging $40, and it's doing nothing you couldn't do yourself for $20.

I'd suggest you do it yourself. Read the section 2.6 "How can I register a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office?" in my Copyright FAQ at <http://www.aimnet.com/~carroll/copyright/faq-home.html>. You can get the forms you need from the Copyright Office web site at <http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/forms.html>, along with instructions.

--
Terry Carroll       |  "I know the Great Lakes.  I've traveled the 
Santa Clara, CA     |  Great Lakes.  And Lake Champlain is not one of
carroll[_at_]tjc.com     |  the Great Lakes." - U.S. Senator John Glenn reacts
Modell delendus est |  to 33 U.S.C. 1122 as amended by Pub.L. 105-160