Demystifying Copyrights

Your Book Is In There
Your Book Is In There
Demystifying Copyrights
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Ever wondered if you need to copyright your manuscript before sending it to beta readers? In this episode, Inger Johnson demystifies one of the most misunderstood topics for aspiring authors: copyright. She breaks down what copyright actually is, when it kicks in automatically, why (and how) to officially register it with the US Copyright Office, and debunks common myths like the “poor man’s copyright.” Clear, practical, and reassuring — this one’s worth a listen before you share your manuscript with anyone.

Show Notes

  • 0:00 – Welcome & intro: finishing two manuscripts for The Muzo Emerald Murders
  • 0:31 – The copyright question that keeps showing up in author Facebook groups
  • 1:26 – What is copyright? The simple definition
  • 2:45 – Copyright protects expression, not ideas — the cabin analogy
  • 3:39 – When does copyright kick in? (Spoiler: automatically)
  • 3:59 – The limitation of automatic copyright: why registration matters
  • 4:10 – What registration actually gets you: up to $150,000 per willful infringement
  • 5:40 – Registration vs. ownership — the house deed analogy
  • 6:07 – How to register: copyright.gov, 10 minutes, $65
  • 7:02 – The “poor man’s copyright” myth debunked
  • 8:17 – “What if my editor steals my manuscript?” — addressed
  • 8:44 – What you should actually do: practical step-by-step advice
  • 9:37 – Why Inger registered both her novels before publication
  • 10:17 – Every publishing topic is learnable — encouragement for the journey
  • 10:12 – Next week: book distribution & aggregators for indie authors
  • 10:37 – Where to find resources: yourbookisinthere.com
  • 10:58 – Sign-off: “Keep dreaming big and keep writing messy”

Resources Mentioned

Find more tools, warnings, and honest guidance on the Resources page.

Enjoying the show? Meet Inger’s novels, or join the conversation on Facebook.