Trending Tuesday: Protecting Your Intellectual Property as an Author
3 min read
Digital content is easily shared, and authors are facing an alarming new threat: the outright theft and repackaging of their books. If you’re an author, this means your intellectual property (IP) could be stolen, republished, and profited from—without you seeing a dime. So how can you protect your work? This article breaks down the crucial steps every author should take to secure their creative rights.
Understanding Copyright: What It Protects
Copyright is the legal protection granted to original works of authorship, including books, articles, poetry, and even unpublished manuscripts. This protection gives you exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, display, and adapt your work. The moment you write something original, you automatically hold copyright over it—but formal registration strengthens your ability to enforce those rights in court.
How to Register Your Copyright
While copyright exists the moment your work is created, registering it provides undeniable legal evidence of ownership. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the U.S. Copyright Office Website – Visit copyright.gov to access official resources.
- Choose the Right Application – The Electronic Copyright Office (eCO) offers different applications based on whether you’re registering a single work, a collection, or a group of published works.
- Pay the Fee – The cost ranges from $45 to $65, depending on the type of work and application.
- Upload or Mail a Copy of Your Work – Digital uploads are faster, but physical copies can also be submitted if required.
- Receive Your Registration Certificate – Processing times vary but typically take a few months. Once registered, you gain the ability to sue for statutory damages and attorney’s fees in case of infringement.
Digital Protections: Guarding Your Work Online
Beyond formal copyright registration, authors should take proactive steps to prevent and detect unauthorized use of their work:
- Watermark Your Digital Copies – If offering free samples or previews, embed a watermark with your copyright notice and website.
- Use ISBNs and Metadata – Assigning an ISBN to your book makes it easier to track and identify.
- Monitor Piracy Sites – Use Google Alerts or services like Blasty or DMCA.com to track if your work is being shared without consent.
- Secure Your Website – If you host your work on a personal site, disable right-click copying and limit PDF downloads.
What to Do If Your Work is Stolen
If you discover your book is being resold, read aloud, or otherwise exploited without permission, take swift action:
- File a DMCA Takedown Notice – Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) requests can force platforms like YouTube, Amazon, and Audible to remove infringing content. Most major sites have forms for this process.
- Contact the Platform Directly – Report the issue through official support channels.
- Seek Legal Assistance – If infringement persists, an intellectual property lawyer can help enforce your rights.
- Publicly Address the Issue (if Necessary) – Raising awareness can deter potential infringers and rally support from fellow authors.
Additional Protections: Trademarks & Licensing
- Trademarking – If you have a book series or a unique brand name, consider trademarking it to prevent others from using it.
- Licensing Agreements – If working with narrators, translators, or publishers, ensure contracts explicitly state ownership and usage rights.