Re: Copywriting

From: givler@cbmvax.commodore.com (Greg Givler - Product Assurance)

Date: Fri, 09 Feb 1990 15:09:24 +0000

In article <833@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> rdominy@palantir.gsfc.nasa.gov (Robert Dominy) writes:
>In article <90039.114604JJK106@PSUVM.BITNET> JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu (jeff
>kochosky) writes:
>>     I recently finished writing the rules for a game, and I wish to get
>them
>> copywritten so once I develop it for whatever means of play (either
>computer
>> or board), I can try to market it or sell it to a game company without
>> worring about my idea being taken from me.  Does anyone have any
>information
>> about how I would go about copywriting the rules, or if that is even
>possible.
>Copyrighting your rules is very easy:  Just include a copyright notice
>somewhere
>at the beginning of your rules, such as:
>
>    (C) 1990  your name
>
>where (C) should be the actual copyright symbol (a 'c' enclosed in a
>circle). You can also register the copyright, which affords you some
>recourse when a copyright is violated.

I dont know exactly how it works with game rules, but with music to get
an official copyright, you contact the Library of Congress in Washington
D.C. They will send you a form that you fill out and send it back to them
with what you want to copyright and around $10.00, at least that is what
it was about five years ago, also I believe that there is a charge for
more then 10 pages but I don't remember.

Also, now with the US subscribing to the BERNE Convention, technically you
don't even need a (C) 1990 anywhere on your work. It is now yours from
the moment of conception.

But for the real scoop I would recommend contacting the Library of Congress,
I'm sure that they have pamphlets and all that sort of good stuff.

Greg
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References

Copywriting
JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu (jeff kochosky)
Thu, 08 Feb 1990 16:46:04 +0000
Re: Copywriting
rdominy@palantir.gsfc.nasa.gov (Robert Dominy)
Thu, 08 Feb 1990 20:51:51 +0000