Business History Books » Business Consultant » Questions about copyright
Questions about copyright
Question:
I have a business formula with specially designed forms and a strategy that allows easy marketing to service oriented companies. I want to enroll partners into this service on an agent basis across the USA. But I’m concerned about plagiarism. Is copyright a good option? How does one apply for a copyright, what does it cover, how much does it cost and how long does it take? Appreciate your feedback. Paul.
Response:
> I have a business formula with specially designed forms and a strategy that > allows easy marketing to service oriented companies. I want to enroll partners > into this service on an agent basis across the USA. But I’m concerned about > plagiarism. Is copyright a good option? > How does one apply for a copyright, what does it cover, how much does it cost > and how long does it take?
Copyright covers the form of the material, not the ideas it contains, so it may or may not help you. If you just want some legal protection against others copying your forms it should do the trick. Copyright is automatically granted upon creation of the copyrightable work. Copyright notices should be applied to all materials. Use the form ") 1998 Your name or company name" The copyright symbol can be replaced with the word "Copyright". Deviating from proper indica formats can affect your rights. Details available from the sources below. You can register copyrights, and it is advisable if you ever see a chance of going to court over these issues. The cost is $20. This is done through the Library of Congress. More info and forms (there are different ones for different types of works) should be available on line. You can also order them by phone. Sorry, don’t have the info handy. — Kris Buttermore
Response:
Hi Paul I don’t think it is possible to copyright a business formula with specially designed forms etc, because that comes under patents. And business formulas are very difficult to patent, plus it’s very costly. However, if you have come up with a very good business formula, you’ll need to market it with great speed before you are copied, so you become the market leader, and that will cost you very big bucks. Further, when you are copied, could you keep improving your product to keep ahead of your competition? And lastly, have you proved without any doubt that your product will fly? If you are sure it will fly, go to www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs02.htm and www.sbaonline.sba.gov/shareware for lots of info. And good luck! Mark Metcalf — Your Own Marketing Dept Looked After By Professionals — Mark Metcalf author: "Your Own Virtual Marketing department" & "New Pressure Free Subliminal Selling Breakthrough" FREE: Info, Newsletters & Reports. Web Site Response Rates Increased 30%-300% Free! See Web site for details.
Response:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ However, I believe generally, forms can’t be copyrighted. — McWebber http://McWebber.Com/ Web Hosting | McWebber Internet Bookstore http://mcwebber.com/mcwebber/bookstore/ ICQ#6421403 Newsgroup postings are not an invitation for mail Do not respond to my postings via e-mail – It will not be seen – Post publicly to reply You Spam Me – I Report You – Do Not Send UCE – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I have a business formula with specially designed forms and a strategy that >allows easy marketing to service oriented companies. I want to enroll partners >into this service on an agent basis across the USA. But I’m concerned about >plagiarism. Is copyright a good option? >How does one apply for a copyright, what does it cover, how much does it cost >and how long does it take?
Response:
>I have a business formula with specially designed forms and a strategy that >allows easy marketing to service oriented companies. I want to enroll partners >into this service on an agent basis across the USA. But I’m concerned about >plagiarism. Is copyright a good option? >How does one apply for a copyright, what does it cover, how much does it cost >and how long does it take? >Appreciate your feedback. >Paul.
Paul You can find copyright information at http://www.loc.gov/copyright – There is also a booklet published by the Library of Commerce (all for free) on copyright basics. Their address is Library of Congress – Copyright Office – 101 Independence Ave, SE – Washington, DC 20559 Copyright becomes immediate when the work is created and the work is created when it is fixed in a copy. Copies are considered to be material objects from which a work can be read or visually perceived either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. The booklet explains the timing and what is covered – also differences for published versus unpublished works. Good Luck Lynne Massie Marketing Consultant Building Business Dreams Into Reality http://www.cymitarinc.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
> http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ > However, I believe generally, forms can’t be copyrighted.
Copyright is granted to anyone and everyone, you only have to ask for it. The simplest way to protect something is to prove prior ownership to the plagiarist (sp?). Go with your newly minted forms to a stationery / office supplies shop and buy two big envelopes addressing both of them to yourself. Seal the forms in one, insert it inside the other then seal the outside one. Send them from a Post Office by REGISTERED mail to yourself keeping the proof of postage safely. Wait until the parcel is delivered, do NOT open it, but attach the proof of postage to the envelope and keep it unopened in a safe place. This is enough proof of prior ownership for any court. Anywhere. — Aidan O’Neill | Services include: Independent Marketing Specialist in: | New market development, Ireland, a member of the European Union, | Competition tracking, giving you a local connection in the EU. | PR and Advertising.
Response:
Copyright costs zero. Just put on the document the words "Copyright (c) 1998, Paul Harper" and you are there. Registering the copyright with the US government costs only a few bucks. Check it out on the net. THe questions is, is a form copyrightable. You have to check this out with a lawyer. Jay Curry MSP Associates Amsterdam – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I have a business formula with specially designed forms and a strategy that >allows easy marketing to service oriented companies. I want to enroll partners >into this service on an agent basis across the USA. But I’m concerned about >plagiarism. Is copyright a good option? >How does one apply for a copyright, what does it cover, how much does it cost >and how long does it take? >Appreciate your feedback. >Paul.
Response:
>This is enough proof of prior ownership for any court. Anywhere.
When I was in Washington, DC a few months back, I stopped in at the Copyright Office and asked them about that procedure. I was told it’s not always going to be accepted in court. — McWebber http://McWebber.Com/ Web Hosting | McWebber Internet Bookstore http://mcwebber.com/mcwebber/bookstore/ ICQ#6421403 Newsgroup postings are not an invitation for mail Do not respond to my postings via e-mail – It will not be seen – Post publicly to reply You Spam Me – I Report You – Do Not Send UCE
Response:
http://www.copywriter.co.uk/resource/msource4.html#Trademark You might be helped by two none legal points. 1) People are busy/lazy/lacking resources, you can hand out copies of your plan to people and they won’t act. 2) What is a big chance and income for you may be a disaster for a big company. John John Block Creative, marketing aware work which Freelance Copywriter talks rather than blandly bores, actively promotes your product, International and aims to be the best Welcomes Dollar and Sterling, in your market sector.