Does a Copyright Protect an Author's Creative Idea?
- Not every creative idea is protected by American copyright laws, nor will every idea be protected by international copyright laws. An idea is not protected as long as it stays in your mind. However, an idea that goes from an idea to a particular created format will be protected under copyright laws.
- Once you take that idea and create, for example, a poem on paper, on the computer or saved in a way that you can transmit it to others, what you've created is protected. You can lose this protection if you transmit your creation to the public without a copyright notice that reserves your rights.
- Once your idea takes tangible form as a poem, story or photograph, it is automatically under protection. You alone have the right to transmit, sell and publish what you've created with your idea. You can also license rights for a certain amount of time. For more formal protection, apply for a copyright from the copyright office. This makes proving your copyright ownership easier.