Need Advice on Copyright for Website Content

[mikeg]

Hi,

I am looking to publish a short article providing tips on content copyright for website owners. I've done some research online and have come up with the following bullets below. I would be most grateful if someone who knows Internet copyright law could verify that what I've written is in fact correct. The last thing I want to do is send false information to my readers. The tips are as follows:

**Article Tips Start***

These points are in relation to US copyright laws, but are still relevant even if you don't live in the US.

** Basically anything you publish in any form is technically protected by a copyright. If you write an eBook, create a software product, write original website content, you own the copyright.

** If you hire a writer to write something for you then as long as it was part of the agreement only you will own the copyright.

** There is one exception to the prohibition against reusing the work of others on the Web which is reposting small excerpts of another website when offering comments or criticism.

** One fallacy is that unless a Web site or page is accompanied by a copyright symbol (the "c" within a circle C ), it doesn't have copyright protection. In fact your work is copyright to you by default, however...

** According to one website you can only take legal action against copyright infringement if your copyright notice contains the copyright symbol "(c)".

** Technically speaking if someone copies something copyright to you then you can take legal action against them. However, if you do take legal action you need proof you are the original author. This can be achieved through registering your copyrighted work by filling out a form and sending it to the US copyright office together with your material and a small fee. However, even if you don't register for copyright, you do still own copyright to your work.

**Article Tips End***

I sincerely hope someone familiar with Internet copyright law is able to take the time to let me know if the above is true and accurate. It really would mean a lot to me.

Thank you very much in advance for any help.

Mike

[According to one website you can only take legal action against copyright infringement if your copyright notice contains the copyright symbol "(c)".


What you have written is correct in a very general way except:

The sentence above in brackets is not correct. They can still be sued.

[mikeg]

Thanks for the reply. It's greatly appreciated.

If anyone else can also confirm the accuracy of tips I listed that would be great... the more thumbs up (or down) the merrier!

Thanks again,
Mike