Re: Copywriting

From: austin@bucsf.bu.edu (Austin H. Ziegler, III)

Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1990 17:03:23 +0000

>>>>> On 9 Feb 90 12:36:24 GMT, jleitch@cs.strath.ac.uk (James T Leitch
>>>>> CS88) said:

Jim> In article <90039.114604JJK106@PSUVM.BITNET> JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu
Jim> (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

The most guaranteed way to do it is to write one of the government
agencies...I don't remember which, and fill out a form that they send you,
send a copy of your work with a $10 fee, and then they will respond in a
few weeks (I think).  The rub might be that you have to copyright it for
each implementation, *as well*.  So your rules are copyrighted, but will
your computer game be?  your board game?  I think you may have to fill one
out for *each* media that you produce it on.  (I know because I was going
to copyright a program, and then I found so many bugs in it that would not
let it work, it was not worth it at the time.  I'll eventually re-write and
get it copyrighted.)

Jim>    Well, I don't know about America, but in Britain, the easiest way
Jim> to copyright your own material is to make out a complete copy, put
Jim> it in an envelope, take it along to your friendly responsible person
Jim> (bank manager, doctor, professor etc.) who will seal it for you with
Jim> their signature, then post it to yourself to mark a ate on it, then
Jim> keep in a safe place.  This means that if you have to take it to
Jim> court, you have the signature of an upstanding member of society to
Jim> prove that you had written it before the date on the postmark.

I have heard of something similar to this in America, and it is the
easiest, but it is not on record with the government.  However, it is legal
because of the post offices' cancel on the stamp.  Thanks for providing the
procedure, Jim.

just my two copper,
austin
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References

Copywriting
JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu (jeff kochosky)
Thu, 08 Feb 1990 16:46:04 +0000
Re: Copywriting
jleitch@cs.strath.ac.uk (James T Leitch CS88)
Fri, 09 Feb 1990 12:36:24 +0000