We’re thrilled to share some exciting news that stems from the overwhelming response to our viral video and newsletter, "Do Not Sign That Speaker's Contract."
We've received countless messages and requests for a tool that could safeguard your rights when you step onto the stage.
And yes, we listened!
Here, we'll dive into three critical aspects you must consider before signing any speaker’s contract.
The event is set for Thursday, May 16th at 9:15 AM PST | 12:15 PM EST.
Copyright protects literary, artistic, dramatic, musical, and certain other works that are fixed in a tangible medium.
This includes books, songs, courses, and even interpretive dances.
For a work to be copyrighted, it must be original, independently created (swiper no swiping!), contain a modicum of creativity, and must be in a fixed medium.
An interesting aspect of copyright is that two people can create the same work independently and still obtain separate copyright protection, as long as they haven't copied each other.
The essence of copyright is rewarding independent originality.
Some clients ask whether they should copyright their entire book at once or chapter by chapter.
The timeline for statutory copyright damages is tight—within three months of publication or before infringement occurs.
If you meet this deadline, you can claim statutory damages ranging from $750 to $30,000 per work.
However, whether to copyright your entire book or do it piece by piece depends on your preference and your writing process.
Some of our clients prefer to complete their book entirely before submitting it to the United States Copyright Office, while others opt to protect their work chapter by chapter.
When applying for copyright, you may need to submit the best copy of your work.
If you’re publishing a physical book, that means you must send a hard copy to the Copyright Office.
Some authors prefer to wait until the entire editing process is complete to ensure a polished final product, while others file registration chapter by chapter, especially if they haven't started selling the book yet.
If you choose the latter, it's easier to obtain copyright protection if your work hasn't been sold in commerce.
This approach allows you to protect each section of your book individually, ensuring that your intellectual property is secure throughout the writing process.
Additionally, if you copyright your book before it is published, you’ll likely be able to simply upload a digital copy of your chapters instead of mailing a physical copy of the book.
