Do I have to copyright my book?

Independent authors often wonder, “Do I have to copyright my book?” You automatically own the copyright to your own book—but for most independent authors, registering your copyright is a good idea.

Official copyright registration creates a public record of your ownership and offers additional legal protections. It also shows the world that you respect the intellectual property you’ve worked so hard on.

Table of Contents

Why Independent Authors Should Copyright Their Books
Intellectual Property Is the Backbone of Your Author Business
Copyrighting Your Book Gives You a Psychological Boost
You Can’t Sue Someone Unless You Register Your Copyright
Copyrighting a Book Is Affordable
Registering a Copyright Establishes a Public Record
Let Spoonbridge Press Register Your Copyright

Why Independent Authors Should Copyright Their Books

According to US copyright law, you own the copyright to your book simply because you wrote it. Is officially registering your copyright with the US Copyright Office really worth the time and expense?

In fact, registering your copyright has a few important benefits for independent authors.* You may not need all of them, but if you ever do, you’ll be glad you didn’t wait.

(We are not legal advisors, and general advice is no substitute for legal advice from someone familiar with your situation. For specific information applicable to your situation, please consult an intellectual property attorney.)

Intellectual Property Is the Backbone of Your Author Business

Creative artists don’t always think of their art as a business. However, if you’re an author and you’re planning to sell your books, guess what? Your author career is a business!

And if you’re a public speaker or business owner, you have even more potential to harness your intellectual property. You can turn your notes or articles into a book, then repackage your book as educational materials, free downloads, and other materials that support your business.

This isn’t just your book—it’s your livelihood. All the intellectual property you create or commission make up your assets library. Officially registering your copyright is an important step toward protecting your intellectual property from misuse.

Copyrighting Your Book Gives You a Psychological Boost

Authors can be prone to self-doubt, and writing can be a lonely endeavor. An official copyright certificate can be an important physical reminder of your journey. By staking your claim, you’re proclaiming to the world—and to yourself—that you’re not just tinkering around. You’re creating. And the thing you’re creating is worthy of respect.

Add your copyright certificate to your file of important business documents or display it on your office wall. It’s another tangible reminder of your accomplishments, and that’s worth being proud of!

You Can’t Sue Someone Unless You Register Your Copyright

True. According to Aaron Hall, Minneapolis business attorney, even if someone is blatantly violating your copyright by using your work without permission, you cannot bring legal action for copyright infringement if you don’t have a valid copyright registration.

“That’s right,” Hall writes. “Even if you are the victim of copyright infringement, the law requires copyright registration in order to pursue a federal copyright infringement lawsuit, and copyright infringement generally must be brought in federal court.” At Spoonbridge Press, we think it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Copyrighting a Book Is Affordable

Registering a copyright isn’t free; for a single author with full ownership rights to their book, registration costs $65. But expediting your registration because you found someone infringing on your copyright will cost a great deal more. Because of this, it’s generally best to register your copyright from the very beginning.

And compared to other publishing costs, such as professional editing (likely thousands of dollars), cover design (hundreds to thousands depending on your approach), and marketing campaigns, the cost of copyright registration is barely a drop in the bucket.

Registering a Copyright Establishes a Public Record

Sure, your name and book title are listed on your cover, sales page(s), website, and anywhere else you put them. But registering your book’s copyright with the USCO creates a searchable public record of your work and your ownership claim.

What does this mean? Anyone in the world can find your contact information by searching the US Copyright Office’s database for your book. If someone wants to send you a permission request or anything else, they’ll find a direct line of communication attached to your copyright record.