How To Copyright Your Work

How To Copyright Your Work

“Copyright is a right granted to CREATORS under law. Copyright in all artistic works is established from the moment of creation – the only qualification required is that the work must be original.

You own the copyright on anything you produce in South Africa. No one has the right to change your work in any way and claim it as his or her own. That is called “plagiarism” and is illegal.  Non-South Africans should Google for information in their respective countries.

When someone pays you to write a book for them – or produce a painting – the copyright remains with you. It is your primary right and you may do with it as you wish. The buyer purchases the right to own your work, never to change or copy it unless by prior written agreement.

Suggestion: Send a dated registered copy of your original manuscript to yourself to assist in proving ownership, should the need ever arise.