The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs to Know

The book comes with many tear out forms with the electronic versions of the forms on CD-ROM. Common and not so common topics are addressed. I was immediately interested in the Chapters on Copyright Basics, Copyright Notice, and Copyright Registration. These three chapters gave me the most vital information I needed to know about Copyrights. For example, I didn't know that works don't need to be registered to be protected by the Copyright Law but if registered with the Copyright office in a timely fashion, the owner gets some special benefits in the case of copyright infringement. I also understood the different treatment given to published and unpublished works.

The sections on copyrights in the online world was of even greater interest to me as I am in the process of creating some websites with online content. I had not known that I could register my online work (as long it met the same requirements for registering copyrights on normal works). The chapter on online works also has detailed information on how deep links are treated, etc.

The section on Fair Use was very helpful as it explained as clearly as possible the circumstances under which you CAN copy a copyrighted work as long as it met the Fair Use guidelines.

Even the less frequently researched topics like 'Transferring Copyright Ownership' and 'International Copyright Protection' are addressed in sufficient detail.

All in all, this is a very important book if you have any kind of work that you want to copyright or if you are considering the implications of copying somebody's work under the Fair Use guidelines. The book is by no means an easy read but Nolo does an excellent job of explaining this fairly complicated subject in plain English for the ordinary person (which seems to be the goal in all of their books). I went to the Nolo website for the latest information on the Copyright Law and wasn't disappointed there either. They have a terrific FAQ section that explains in great detail some of the latest information pertaining to the Copyright Law (especially as applicable in the online world).

I hope you are able to benefit to the same extent that I did, and good luck!


A good primer to copyright   December 8, 2000
David Tepper (Virginia, USA)
10 out of 14 found this review helpful

There's no substitute for a good copyright attorney when you have a problem on your hands, but for the everyday business of securing and registering your work, you can't go wrong with this book. There's even a good chapter on the confusing field of cyberspace copyright, and international copyright treaties are given adequate due.

But the book either overreaches or doesn't do enough, depending on one's point of view. The title of this book explicitly states that the subject is written works. However, the discussion on "moral rights", although brief, seems very pointless because moral rights apply to artists, not writers. Similar irrelevancies pop up here and there. The upshot is that this book is for visual artists as well as writers, while giving short shrift to musicians, architects, and others who need a book such as this for copyright issues as well.

The solution, of course, is either to make this book just for writers and eliminate the extraneous stuff, or to make the book more inclusive and provide tips for all types of copyrighted material. Making the book more inclusive wouldn't even require that much more work.

So, writers and artists, get this book as soon as possible. Everyone else can benefit from its tips as well, but should at least check out the Library of Congress's website for further details that the book misses.


My Copy is Getting Dog-Eared   February 11, 2002
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

After doing quite a bit of research on the internet on copyright law, I purchased several copyright related books. The best of the bunch, in my mind, is "The Copyright Handbook," by Stephen Fishman, written to address copyright as it applies to written works. Published in March, 2000, the 5th edition of this book is still up to date with the copyright law of the United States.
Fishman does a good job of simplifying complicated issues. This is consistent with the goal of the publisher, Nolo, in publishing "quality law books & software for non-lawyersy" that are "easy to use."
Included in the book are segments on issues and topics such as what is covered by copyright, what works are protected, duration of copyright, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Sony Bono Copyright Extension Act, fair use, electronic publishing, and protecting works on the internet.
I keep my copy on a shelf just above my computer that I can readily reach when copyright questions arise.


Plagirism Problems   March 31, 2006
Carmen (San Diego, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I hire work-for-hire writers to create story anthologies and have become increasingly frustrated by the tendency of many to liberally "borrow" the written words of others found via the Internet. This book's chapters on Copyright Infringement and Copyright in the Online World have been invaluable resources that I have used to educate both myself and my writers. The author has wonderful tools for assessing and evaluating similarities between two texts, a test for paraphrasing, sample legal cases and judgments, letters to send to copyright violaters, an examination of liability issues, and more.

I routinely purchase an updated copy of this handbook every few years. The blank forms in the Appendix and the accompanying CD are worth the price of the book alone. The author does a great job of covering copyright basics, copyright notice, and copyright registration. The book offers easy-to-understand explanations of some pretty complex legal issues. You should be able to find answers to your copyright FAQs here. Very thorough and a bargain, especially when you consider what a lawyer charges. I'm not advocating that you don't avail yourself of a lawyer when necessary, but it pays to do your homework and understand the issues, and with this book you can.