Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2018 October 4

= October 4 =

Copyright Question
Would I haft to get a supplementary registration if I merged two chapters into one during an edit. Would the two merged chapters still be protected by the existing copyright? ατόνος (talk) 18:51, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * Two chapters of what? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:01, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * Two chapters of my book. ατόνος (talk) 20:04, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * If it's your own work, what's the problem? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:26, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * I've heard that if you add a chapter then a supplementary registration is required to cover the added work, so would I need one if I merged two chapters? ατόνος (talk) 20:53, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * The answer will depend on the copyright laws of whatever country you're in. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:56, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * How about America. ατόνος (talk) 21:15, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * What "registration" process in America are you specifically referring to? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 21:20, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * The registration process of the U.S Copyright Office, it's a website that deals with this sorta thing. 𓃝𓃵𓃶 (talk) 21:22, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * What did they tell you when you asked them? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 21:25, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * Not much, just that added chapters or paragraphs wouldn't be covered by the existing copyright. déhanchements (talk) 21:32, 4 October 2018 (UTC)
 * Example: say I take chapter 5's contents and place them at the end of chapter 1. déhanchements (talk) 00:33, 5 October 2018 (UTC)

The very site says in their FAQ When is my work protected? Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. Do I have to register with your office to be protected? No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.” So are you going to bring a lawsuit? 194.174.73.80 (talk) 11:40, 5 October 2018 (UTC) Marco Pagliero Berlin


 * Courtesy link to the official website of the U S Copyright Office added.  This is not an adversarial matter.   It is non-contentious business.   It's true that if you add original content to a work that's not covered under the original copyright, but if you just move the words around the protection is not affected.   (Disclaimer:  I am not a lawyer). 86.152.81.16 (talk) 14:03, 5 October 2018 (UTC)


 * I appreciate your answers. I think I'm treating this as a big deal when, like you said, it's non-contentious business. déhanchements (talk) 18:27, 5 October 2018 (UTC)