How do I copyright stuff?

[Danielh90]

How do I copyright stuff? Do I have to hire a lawyer right? 

[thekeemo]

Nope

just put it on the page where you list it somewhere

 

you only need a lawyer to sue someone for breaking the copyright

 

I recommend using http://creativecommons.org/ to setup the license

[babadoctor]

you need money

a lot of money

 

if you want to patent an idea its the same

 

Nope

just put it on the page where you list it somewhere

 

you only need a lawyer to sue someone for breaking the copyright

no there are legal ways of copyrighting something

[thekeemo]

you need money

a lot of money

 

if you want to patent an idea its the same

 

no there are legal ways of copyrighting something

trademarks are different

[Danielh90]

Nope

just put it on the page where you list it somewhere

 

you only need a lawyer to sue someone for breaking the copyright

 

I recommend using http://creativecommons.org/ to setup the license

so you don't have to register it with the goverment? 

[babadoctor]

trademarks are different

oh

[babadoctor]

so you don't have to register it with the goverment? 

no

[Danielh90]

trademarks are different

What should I put down? Copyright (Name/thing that I would copyright) and the the Copyright symbol? 

[babadoctor]

What should I put down? Copyright (Name/thing that I would copyright) and the the Copyright symbol? 

yea

[AshleyAshes]

The Berne Convention, of which nearly every nation is a signatory member of, has pretty simple copyright rules.  Any creative work that you make is immediately copyrighted upon it's creation, instantly, no paperwork needed.  You don't even need to CLAIM copyright or state that the work is copyrighted to have it be protected copyright.  Some nations allow REGISTRATION of copyright, but that just helps make it easier to defend your copyright in court.  Registration is optional and rarely used since it's actually kind of hard to STEAL someone's copyright.  You write a book, I steal the manuscript and print it, but you have 5 years worth of notes, discussion, people who helped you proof read, revisions, and everything else, there's no way in court I could successfully claim that I was the original author.  Creating a creative work leaves a TONNE of evidence on it's own so really, you're good.

[Antistatic12]

How do I copyright stuff? Do I have to hire a lawyer right? 

Copyright protection is free and applies automatically when material is created.

However, check your local laws and guidlines about copyright as it may differ.

[PlayStation 2]

This really depends. All in all, it's how your country's laws work.

[Antistatic12]

Talking to legal representation could be a good idea as they could have better insight.

[ThomasD]

Copyright protection is free and applies automatically when material is created.

However, check your local laws and guidlines about copyright as it may differ.

Yep, any unique work is automatically protected by copyright.  The key issue often involves actions that might represent you surrendering your rights - like posting the work on somebody else's blog/website.

 

What is it that you want protected?  Is it text, musical composition, software, etc?

[airdeano]

all depends on when the originality began, yours might not be the first.. 

be prepared to defend your "originality date" if you are contested and vise-versa.