Home
>
Writing
>
Writing - Copyrights and Trademarks Protect You

Writing - Copyrights and Trademarks Protect You

When most people consider writing a book, they don't think about Trademarks. However, I highly recommend that you leverage your writing for multiple purposes, and that's why registering a Trademark for your concept is a good idea. If you use your writing as the basis for workshops and other products, it's in your best interests to protect your concepts with a Trademark.

To paraphrase the definition of a Trademark given at the official web site www.uspto.gov, a Trademark is a symbol, a word, a phrase, or a design, (or any combination), used to identify and distinguish the unique source of goods. Note that a Service Mark has the same definition as a Trademark, except as related to services instead of products.

You are not required to register a Mark. Instead, you can establish your rights to the Mark with a record of legitimate use of it. However, there are several advantages to owning a Mark that is federally registered. The most notable is your premier position if anyone else should attempt to use your Mark after your official registration date.

Regardless of whether you've made an application to the USPTO for a federally registered Mark, you may use the TM and SM symbols any time you claim Mark rights. However, the federal symbol for registration (encircled "R"), may only be used after the USPTO has received your application, processed it, and officially registered your Mark. One more thing to note: the federal registration symbol can only be used in connection with the goods or services that are specifically listed in the federal documents.

Of course, there is a difference among the purposes of Trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Patents protect a inventions. Copyrights protect original literary or artistic work.

Your work is copyright protected under common law when you create it. And by printing the work with the copyright notification included, you have signified your claim to the work. However, to have it officially recorded, you will want to register it with the Copyright Office. Keep in mind that the government does not enforce the copyright. If someone were to infringe, it would be up to you to protect your rights through a civil suit.

Contact the Copyright Office to get the forms. Call 202- 707-3000 and request copyright package 109, or go to the web site, www.loc.gov/copyright and fill out form TX. To register your copyright of a book, take these steps: 1) Print the copyright notice on the copyright page (title page). You may use the word copyright, but "C" in a circle says the same thing and is necessary for international protection. Also, add "All rights reserved." The notice must appear in all copies of the book to protect you. The copyright should be in the name of the owner. 2) Publish the book. 3) Register your claim with the Copyright Office within three months of the book being published.

New copyright duration is for the author's life, plus fifty years. Since your ownership is part of your estate, mention it in your will. Everything is protected by the copyright, (text, graphics, etc.), except titles. Titles can't be copyrighted. However, does the title fit the definition of a Trademark? If so, you can claim it that way. An example: "Chicken Soup for the Soul" is Trademarked because it can't be copyrighted. No one actually would use that title for their own creation, but if it weren't Trademarked, anyone could legally profit from using the phrase to market other products.

Cover all your bases and use the means available to protect your creation. By registering your copyright and your rights in a Mark, the safeguards are prepared if someone tried to use your work as their own.

As a publisher of the "A Guide To Getting It" book series, Marilyn J. Schwader has made a study of topics related to writing. She is contributing author of articles for acorn writing news your premier resource on-line for information on writing. Find the archive of articles at: acorn writing news

efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..

In The News:

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.