What is the poor mans copyright? In the arts, at the intersection of 4th and poor, right on the corner of legal needs, you will find the residence of the poor man’s copyright.
The poor man’s copyright, mail copyright or canceled postage copyright is often promoted by artist lawyer wannabes who got their honorary law degree from the school of hard knocks. This copyright involves dating the work using the postal service, a notary public or other means to establish a time of creation of the intellectual property. The purpose is to prove that the work was in their possession at a certain time establishing, in effect, a birth certificate.The thinking is that this process will be less than the cost, time, and trouble of registering a copyright.
It is also thought that this will afford some protection of actually registering the works with the official copyright forms.
In the event of a theft of the art or writing, the poor man’s copyright will provide the date of original possession as proof.
Originally this copyright method of choice was used by poor authors who obtained the unique supposed copyright for the cost of an envelope and the current postage. Then the legal eagle artist lawyer wannabes expanded the definition of how to keep the cost down.
By taking a picture and then mailing the picture of your painting to yourself, it is believed that a second burden of copyright has been met, the publication of the enduring production.
This method of copyright does not necessarily meet the burden of proof that is required in a court of law. Even though you are afforded a copyright on the completion of your work, it may not be of protection should you want to pursue it legally.
Now with electronic media, there is a whole new set of questions and possibilities. So what about copyright of digital information? More on this later.
