Question about "traditional" copyright

[Rachel Ventura]

I know in the U.S. (not sure about other countries/markets), a work is considered "copyrighted" the minute it's set on paper (or hard drive, nowadays). And I know you're not supposed to query agents until you've got a finished and polished product on your hands.

But is it advisable, necessary, or even allowable to register a copyright (at copyright.gov or wherever your country's office is) for a work before it's completed, i.e. even without a published date?

Form TX is the one for "literary or dramatic works," and it has separate fields for "creation date" and "publishing date." You can update any information as it changes, so it's OK to leave some fields blank AFAIK (so if/when the work is published you can update the date of publication in your account). But if you're not officially "finished," is it OK to file for a copyright anyway? Or should you wait until you've actually queried successfully and have an agent's representation?

Also, is it possible through these kind of sites, if at all, to register a copyright in your home country and foreign countries too?

[Mira]

No idea! I think it's okay, but I'm not sure.

This would be a Nathan question!

[CharleeVale]

Completely unnecessary. According to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, copyright is automatic. Although if you intend on suing people for damages you will need to file for an actual copyright.

In this day and age 'intellectual property' is all the rage. I wouldn't worry, especially since you never know wether this manuscript will even really see the light of day if you know what I mean. Why stress out about it?

Chillax. : )

CV

[Rachel Ventura]

Thanks Charlee.

Although I might want to sue people for damages, but those are the people who've damaged me so much I end up obsessing about things like this.

Not the same thing as getting pirated on Napster or Rapidshare, obviously.

[Nathan Bransford]

Completely unnecessary. According to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, copyright is automatic. Although if you intend on suing people for damages you will need to file for an actual copyright.

In this day and age 'intellectual property' is all the rage. I wouldn't worry, especially since you never know wether this manuscript will even really see the light of day if you know what I mean. Why stress out about it?

Chillax. : )

CV

Yep.