Hi everyone,
I have a Visual Basic application I would like to copyright.  I checked
the copyright home page in the net and found that I need to send them an
application form plus $20.  My problem is that I don't know witch form to
complete (Form TX, Form PA, etc).  There are several forms available for
different purposes, but software is not mention at all.  I would
appreciate if somebody can tell me witch form to use to copyright
software.

TIA
Armando

On Jan 18, 1996 15:35:15 in article <Copyright Question>, '"Armando A.

This may be totally different in the states, but in Europe it is possible
to retain a strong case for copyright very simply - the onus being on the
individual to prove ownership BEFORE anyone else can prove it.  The easiest
way to achieve this is to send (physically snail mail) a copy of (in this
case all your source code and compiled versions) WITH the copyright info
included in it (ie something like (C) John Doe 1995) to YOURSELF.  When you
receive it, it is sealed and with a post mark which is dated.  DO NOT open
it, but deposit it at your bank should you ever need to prove that you had
ownership prior to anyone else.

Registered copyright is better, but obviously at a price
--

It works just as well in the states -- copyright means the samething.

Send it "registered" mail. :) It maybe better, just in case the postal service
uses disappearing ink on the post mark. :)

--

Brand

http://www.cs.orst.edu/~huntbr

'Fraid that the postal technique doesn't stand up for much in court :

You could have posted an unsealed envelope to yourself. The bank bit
does work.

Copyrights are automatic,, in fact it is VERY hard to write freeware
in which you invoke the copyright to anyone. It usually works out
easier if anyone wishing to use your code commersially contacts you.

Simon

I find the replies in this thread very interesting, as many have mentioned
sending a physical copy of the source code to make the copyright ironclad.

Honest question:  Does anybody out there really believe that Microsloth has
registered the source code for Windows 95 in this manner?  That Adobe
has published the source for their software by shipping it off for
registration?  Same for Apple, IBM, etc.  You get the point.

In light of Apple losing their lawsuit against Microsloth for the 'ripoff'
of the Mac operating system (don't mean to start a flame war with this one),
it seems that the best way to go is placing a copyright notice on your
software, putting it on the market FIRST, and then accepting the fact
that if it's good, there will be imitators (ripoffs?)

We all know you can't copyright ideas such as toolbars, pop-up menus, etc.
You can't hold exclusive rights to a Visual Basic program that, say, maintains
a payroll ledger -- anybody can write such a program.  Whether they stole
your ideas exactly in producing their version is a matter that you *can*
argue in the courts, but all the previous cases seem to have been decided
against the original copyright holder.

Now, having said that:  anybody out there *really* want to help their
competitors out by shipping all their juicy source code off to some
government agency where anybody could potentially view it?

----
Funny story:  I just had this discussion with attorneys here in Kentucky
(USA) who have never copyrighted S/W before, but are trying to treat it
like an artistic creation (not a bad idea).  When I refused to send source
code, they asked for 'the binaries'.  I sent them a floppy disk with an
executable.

Two days later, they called back and said that I needed to PRINT THE
EXECUTABLE.

Yep, they wanted me to print the executable.  I haven't stopped laughing
yet, and I am more scared than ever of 'legal experts' who don't understand
the subject matter.

[stepping off soapbox now]

Mark Alsip

Use the TX form it is avaliable from the Copyright office,  check your local
library there are some good books on the subject of how to copyright your
software and protecting your copyright thats were I learned what I know about
it.  Also you have 3 months
 after you begin distributing your software to register your copyright if you
do not do this within the 3 month period then you lose the right to ask for
cash awards for copyright infringment and can only take a person to court to
stop them from illegaly u
sing your software or code.  If you register within three months then you can
also sue for the money you have lost caused by the copyright infringment.