Protecting your rights

Being able to say a created work is yours is important if you want to assert your rights and receive royalties. The problem has always been providing satisfactory proof. Let's look at 3 methods of handling your created works.

1 - doing nothing

For most people, this is what they do and it may be fine for them. This is, however, very short sighted. If you create a work that exists in the public domain and someone takes that work and uses it in a TV ad for example, you will of course want to receive a fee and royalties for that use. If you cannot prove that you own the rights to the work, then you will not receive any money. Employing one of the methods below, you at least stand a chance of being able to prove before a court that you were the creator. Remember this, you don't know what could possibly happen in the future to a work.

2 - posting it to yourself

This is the method that everyone is familiar with and here are tips on how to do it just right.

• place a copy of the work in an envelope with the front page of today's newspaper
• seal the envelope, sign your name across the seal and cover in sticky tape
• write on the outside of the envelope what is inside
• address it to yourself
• take it to the post office and send it recorded delivery, thereby ensuring the royal mail is your third party witness
• when you receive the envelope, never, ever open it and store it safely.

3 - registering with a third party

This option costs serious money but might provide reassurance especially as the material is stored away from you. The problem lies in the fact that if you stop paying, then the material is destroyed rather than being returned to you, in some cases. The Musicians' Union send you a blank CD on which you store your files and, for as long as you are a member, they will store it 'securely'.

Banks will store documents for a fee, just walk in and ask.

Whatever you decide to do, make yourself aware and make an informed choice as to how you want your works protected.

Next: Copyright 103 - the copyright argument