Copyrighted Poetry?

I do not beleive that it is legally copyrighted when you put it on there..They expect you to have it copyrighted before you put it on there. If some one else puts your poetry on there they assume that you gave them permission to do so. YOur poetry is published on their website not copyrighted. That part is up to you.

Also do not use the mailing it to yourself as a copyright.. Poor man's copyright is a myth---"Placing a work into an envelope and mailing it to yourself does not prove ownership. You sign no forms, make no statements and offer no proof of creation. People mail things that they do not hold the copyright to all of the time and the courts know that."

Yes, it is. But the truth is as soon as you write something it is legally copyrighted. Poetry.com isn't doing you any favors. They are a vanity press that will try to entice you to spend money for a cheaply bound copy of your poetry (whether its good, bad, or otherwise) next to a host of other questionable poetry. You could go with the sealed envelope method the first answerer gave you (perfectly acceptable), or you could go to the US Government site and copyright a collection of your poetry. Here's the link:

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl106.html

Oh, and one other "cute" point about poetry.com regarding copyright. Let's say you sent them a poem in 2000. If you go out to check their site 3 years later the copyright shows 2003. If you checked it today it would show 2007. Stay away from that site.

I hope that helps.

Best,

Todd

When in doubt, go straight to the source, in this case, the U.S. Copyright Office. They have an FAQ that should answer your questions.

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

By law, your work falls automatically under copyright protection when fixed in a tangible form that is perceptible either directly or via machine. I suppose "machine" could include the computer, but that may be a matter for further inquiry into the aforementioned site.

But in order to legally assure your work is protected in case you wish to bring suit for copyright infringement, you would need to register your work.

Contrary to some advice you might hear about mailing your work to yourself as a "poorman's copyright," there is NO PROVISION under copyright law for this particular method and it cannot be considered a form of registration.

On a final note, I wouldn't recommend submitting poems to poetry.com if you want to establish a credible literary career. It essentially operates as what's called a vanity press publisher, meaning they'll publish anybody so long as that person is willing to cough up the money. They do have contests whose viability I can't confirm, but if they're willing to publish anybody and everybody, of what true value is it?

I surely have found out that that may no longer a suitable thank you to repeat appropriate your Poem. the place I stay replica righting is whilst a author or Artist paintings is Registered with the city or state, a cost is charged and a certificates is issued. i'm very just about specific the Library of Congress looks after copyrighting. For Poetry contests attempt the countless Writing Magazines, internet web pages for Writers.

That is beside the point, DO NOT place your poetry on that website. I have never met a person who has entered their work on that website that hasn't received a letter saying "Your poem is great, we want to put it in a book. Would you like to buy that book? Oh, and we also want you to read your poem at our convention. Would you like to pay the small recording fee?" That website is a sham, a debauchery, as I have said in other answers, it is a plague on the very concept of poetry. I hold nothing against the poets and people (who think their poets) who place their work on that site, but I hold everything against that pathetic website. Do not be fooled by its false promises of rewards. I've seen the same annual winners for the last five years that I went to that site, hoping that somehow, they would pay for me to attend a convention so that I could win money. I was foolish then, but I'm wiser. Do not waste your time.

You see? The people that followed me, also agree.

yes. anything that has something written, includes the author's name, and has the date either posted or is accessible in some way as proof of when it was written is copyrighted.

cheapest way to copyright something is put it in a sealed envelope and mail it back to yourself. remember whats inside and if the issue of legality ever comes up, give that envelope to a lawyer. and yes, this is completely true. if you don't believe me...ask a lawyer. i did. as long as it holds the seal and the postmark.

this also holds true to posting something on writing.com. i believe they actually have the rules of this listed somewhere within their site. i used to post on there a lot simply for the copyright.

not sure, as if you do not get it copyrighted yourself (have someone do it) that work can be plagiarized and if it is not documented properly you don't have a case (legal recourse)

very confusing problem. do a search with google. this may help!