Will you copyright your Characters/Comics in the future?

[Zannen00]

Just wondering.
What are the odds someone that has the right skills/right connection just took your ideas, make it their own
and make it big? What do you have that can prove that it's been stolen?

[gateofselidor]

The vast majority of Tapastic users' work will already be copyright to them, thanks to international copyright law. You don't need to register it, and as long as you have things like the original files, you already have plenty of proof. If someone does take your art and try to sell prints/tshirts of it, your biggest problem will be getting the stuff taken down without paying for a lawyer, as many online marketplaces are slow to respond to art theft.

[shinepaw]

You can't copyright ideas And anything you create is copyrighted: "A copyright exists immediately upon the original creation and fixation thereof, which is the legal way to say it exists upon creation "

And as said, having the original files/art should be more than enough to prove it.

[starlightcityentert]

Hi, personally, I would advise copyrighting your designs/scripts(well if you are a writer like I am) and story pages before showcasing anything, anywhere. Certain ideas, names, titles, cannot be protected but if someone blatantly rips off your comic/characters/story and you have it all copyrighted you'll have a lot better chance fighting in court than you would without it, even though technically the moment you create something it is already your property.

http://www.copyright.gov/

^if you have time enough, try to understand the basics of copyright law and if you have the $ for the fees(it isn't expensive) you can copyright your comics yourself without legal help. Turnaround time is usually a few months, but once you submit your work your copyright on it goes into effect the same date that it is accepted for processing, and you'll get a certificate in the mail in a few months. For my series(which I am going to begin posting some of it on here this month) R:ILPERSONA, I created a massive story bible with all of my concept artwork, designs, original scripts/comic pages, everything and it was all copyrighted in one shot, and then every few months when I make new material I copyright it as well.

A lot of creators pour their soul into their creation and it would be unwise to not at least have some protections on it....better safe than sorry you know? Plagiarism is to me one of the ugliest forms of theft.

Cheers,

-Starlightcitypro
www.ilpersona.com

[MylCreates]

Yeah that's what I thought >3>

[SpavVy]

Like gateofselidor said our stuff already has a copyright to them, but to answer your question yes I do plan to register my story for it in the future because I want to publish it as a book.

[winglesscomic]

I filled out the copyright claim several months ago and was gonna send it in but I didn't have the fee for it (at that time I had no job), I should probably finish that now that I'm getting paid slave wages. I just like to make it official.

Also, if someone actually wanted to steal my work, I'd feel pretty flattered. Laugh a bit then smite them with the Holy Hammer of Copyright Infringement.

[SpavVy]

@winglesscomic LOL! Smite them with the Holy Hammer of Copyright Infringement! That's just awesome! x,D

[getsuart]

I'd also suggest that you take a look at your own country laws aboutthe artists rights. The law isn't the same in USA, Bulgaria, France or Japan.

But if you get in trouble, grab your original files (usually a psd will do it), show the oldest website you started to publish on, and... call a lawyer in the worst case. :'D If it's a teen taht makes money about it, usualy, pressure makes him stop.

[starlightcityentert]

It is very complicated, but there are treaties in place that protect copyrights in foreign countries but it depends. To me all of the international stuff is very shaky. There are definitely countries that do not respect copyright law, but I honestly don't worry about that because. as a lawyer friend once told me, "if someone wants to steal your stuff, they will. What you do prior to that makes all the difference."

[abbastudios]

You do need to attach the copyright notice as soon as you create the work.

I've written in my blog clearing up misconceptions about copyright. You can read it

here

and here

[abbastudios]

You're doing it right!

[abbastudios]

The United States in part of the Berne Convention, which is a group of countries that agree on international copyright law.

[calima]

Actually titles CAN be protected with trademarks, depending on how unique the title is I suppose. It’s generally a good idea to have a title unique enough that you could put a trademark on it if you felt the need to.

[joannekwan]

[joannekwan]