Hey,
So I know sharing your work can be scary. In creative works, you’ve tended over the characters, and know them sometimes better than you know yourself. They’re your children. And the work that you have painstakingly edited and rewritten so much, is like your baby. Now you need to send it out into the world. A fresh set of eyes is needed to further rework and polish it.
If you have done enough work that you’re ready to send it to an editor or publisher, well great! And don’t worry about losing it. Editors and publishers do not steal ideas.
But it’s unlikely you’ll get it to this point by yourself. You should send copies of your work to others to read over first. Actual readers are great for input. They can tell you what other people will see and think when they read your work, but an author is even better. They are going through the same process as you, and have wired themselves to catch mistakes, clunky sentences, and not-quite-right-words.
I said editors and publishers don’t steal ideas. Does that mean authors do? Well, yes. They steal ‘ideas’. You’re stories and work, however, is safe.
If another author uses your idea, it’s actually a good thing. Many stories are created this way. Have you ever read a book and come up with your own idea based on it? It’s the same sort of thing. Remember, no matter how many people use your idea, they can never write the story the way you will. Ideas are just that. Ideas. Everyone’s interpretation will be different.
If your work is already written, don’t worry about sharing it with an author either. It is protected by law.
In Australia, all literary works (and musical, artistic, and dramatic works) are automatically under copyright owned by the original author. Everything that is written in this country, including this blog, can’t be reproduced, published, performed, adapted, or communicated to others without the author's permission. A copyright notice is not required. This lasts up until 70 years after the author's death unless the copyright is transferred and taken out on the piece by another party. After the 70 years are up, or the copyright is not renewed by the new owner, it becomes part of the public domain.
There are a few exceptions under fair dealings and similar, but an author cannot pass off an Australian author's work as their own. If you are concerned about sharing your work with another author, sending a copy to yourself as an attachment in an unopened email can serve as proof of you having the document first if you need it.
This is also mostly true of the United States. All literary (musical, dramatic, pantomimes, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, Audio-visual, sound recordings, derivative, compilations, and architectural) works created there are also under copyright automatically. However, if the author is contracted to write a piece, the copyright belongs to the person who hired them.
Copyright in the USA covers derivative works, distributing copies, publicly performing, displaying the work (although visual art is not covered for this part), and transmitting sound recordings. And again, this covers your work until 70 years after your death, the only exception being the transfer of copyright to another person or company.
In the USA however, some things, such as filing a lawsuit, cannot be done without registering the copyright. As the piece is automatically under copyright, if you register it after the copyright is broken, you can still take back your wok.
Fair use laws do mention some exceptions. These are the equivalent of fair dealing laws in Australia. Again, you can make copies with dates on them if you are concerned.
I am aware that there may be some people reading from other countries as well. I’m sorry that I can’t cover everywhere. Please check your own copyright laws if you are concerned, and check your fair use or fair dealing laws as well.
Although authors do steal ideas, they do not steal work. The writing community, both online and face-to-face is very welcoming and helpful. Reach out to them. New authors are always welcome!
No comments:
Post a Comment