How to copyright things?

To protect a business name within your industry, you would apply for a trademark.

Trademarks can be names of products or services, logos, slogans, packaging and even sounds and smells. In essence, a trademark can be almost anything that is used to identify a particular product or service. Registering a trademark grants the owner exclusive rights to the mark within the specified industry.

Of course, it's necessary to research the mark comprehensively prior to filing to ensure that there is no possibility of infringing upon another party.

This entails searching the pending & registered Federal and State trademark files as well as the US National Common-Law files. Then, if clear, you can decide if you would like to file for a Federal or a State trademark.

To register a trademark, it would either be through your Secretary of State for a State trademark or the US Patent & Trademark Office for a Federal trademark.

If you are only conducting business in one state, then a State trademark is most appropriate. If you conduct business in at least 2 states OR between the US & any other country, you can file for a Federal trademark.

Copyrights can be obtained for things of an artistic nature. This includes, of course, poetry, films, sculptures, music, fiction, etc. But can also include things that may not necessarily seem "artistic" in the general sense of the word. Copyrights can also be obtained for advertising copy, games, software programs and blueprints, to name just a few.

You can do this at the US Copyright Office – see the last 2 links in the source box. The application is fairly simple & the cost is $45 per application.

Despite what others state, a "poor man's" copyright is NOT the same as registering it. Here's what the US Copyright Office has to say:

"The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a 'poor man’s copyright.' There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration."

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Send the stuff yourself in a sealed envelope and send it registered mail. When you receive it do not open it, that way if you should go to court, the judge will open the sealed envelope with your name and the date it was mailed. It is not the best way to copyright stuff but it is a cheap alternative.

Contact the US Patent Office for information in the USA.

catch22..tink u mistaken, prof q.. 1 2 copyrights his products, not music download.

prof q.. if u have registered yr biz in usa, i cant advice but if u did in s'pore.. then, i suggest.. u check tis website>> www.ipos.gov.sg

Well it is illegal, but i know people who do it all the time, and they never get viruses or have gotten caught. Because if that was the case almost everybody would be locked up for downloading torrents ! =P Hope this helps.

CONTACT THE COPYRIGHT OFFICE. ITS ABOUT 45 DOLLARS TO COPYRIGHT MUSIC AND STUFF. OR JUST DOWNLOAD THE FORMS. I THINK YOU CAN JUST GO TO YAHOO AND TYPE IN US COPYRIGHT OFFICE, OR COPYRIGHT.COM SHOULD LEAD YOU THERE.

you have to go SE a lawyer and pay him like 400$

For Copyright in USA, please visit SassyDomains.com and select "Build a Website" menu and then select "c-Site®" sub-menu.

You have to patent your ideas.