Q:

Do I need to register my copyright to lay claim to a story I shared with someone else?

For any work – short story, epic novel, computer programme, musical score, screenplay or even nude painting to be protected by copyright laws – the work has to be original and expressed in tangible form – that is, written or drawn. When I say original, I mean the creation of the work must have been to some degree independent. Did you write your story before he did? Or when you said "share", did you just talk about it? Did you make any effort to put your thoughts down, even on a napkin? Dictate it into your iPod? This serves as evidence that you hold the copyright to this particular story. He may confidently claim that it’s his substantial adaptation of your rough idea, and further complicate your claim. If you have nothing but evidence from sloshed buddies over a night of pints as your evidence, it will be difficult to prove in court that the story is your brainchild.

There’s no need to file for registration with IPOS (Intellectual Property Office of Singapore) to get copyright protection in Singapore. You automatically enjoy copyright protection upon creating your work in written form, even a story outline in a dated Microsoft Word document. Artists and writers can protect their copyright by keeping a copy of their work with lawyers, make a statutory declaration before a Commissioner of Oaths or simply by sending a copy of their work to themselves by post, leaving the envelope unopened so that the date stamp and the unopened work will prove the work as it existed at the time in question. And by the way, the use of the symbol “©” is merely a notice of a claim by someone that he wishes to exercise copyright over his writing. It does not give him an automatic right.

Tags: Guy Wisdom, Legal Ease, Useful,