Copyright basics for writers in the electronic age
From: richard.klein@[removed].com
Date: 06 Mar 1990
Copyright attaches the moment you write it down. Registration with the Copyright Office gives you stronger remedies if someone copies your work.
From: laura.mendez@[removed].net
Date: 04 Jun 1990
We still recommend registering before sending out full manuscripts. The $20 fee is cheap insurance.
From: brendan.ohara@[removed].org
Date: 24 Nov 1991
Can I copyright an idea for a story? Or just the specific text?
From: richard.klein@[removed].com
Date: 07 Feb 1993
Ideas themselves are not copyrightable. The particular expression (the words on the page) is. Keep good records of drafts and dates.