Last month, we covered what to do before publishing to protect your work, at least in terms of copyright protection. Here is the self-publishing copyright checklist of things to do after publication.
- Register your copyright with the Copyright Office. Registration is not required, but it is very helpful in the event of a lawsuit. The ideal time to register is within three months of publication, but you can register before publication or after the three-month window if you wish.
- Keep an eye out for infringers. Sadly, there is no one whose mission in life is to find all infringers, whoever and wherever they may be. The only way you’re going to find someone selling illegal copies of your work is to look for them, or hire someone to look for you. On the plus side, if you find your content on a website, getting the content removed is relatively easy. On the negative side, stopping the infringer from reposting elsewhere is very difficult.
- Periodically review your contracts. You did the hard work when you created the contracts, but it’s good to take a look at them every so often to remind yourself what everyone agreed to. In addition, you may want or need to renegotiate those contracts down the road as your circumstances change.
- Keep a portfolio. Few authors want to be a one-hit wonder; most authors expect to publish multiple books over the course of their career. It’s highly recommended that you keep a portfolio or spreadsheet that lists your copyrighted works, their publication status, relevant contracts, who to reach out to for questions, etc. It creates an easy reference point for you, and it makes life much easier for whoever may be managing your copyrights after you.
Don’t leave your book vulnerable. Whether you need help registering your copyright, reviewing contracts, or tracking down infringers, the Law Office of Kelley Way is here to help. Reach out at kaway@kawaylaw.com and take the next step in protecting your work.
