Copyright - What you need to know.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

"Getting Started: Table of Contents"  -- An article on copyright posted under "Writing"
"Copyright Essentials" 
"Previously Published??!" 
http://www.copyright.gov/
http://www.copyrightforms.org/

See the following law taken from http://www.copyright.gov/

The 1976 Copyright Act defines publication as follows:

"Publication" is the distribution of copies or phonorecords of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies or phonorecords to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution, public performance, or public display constitutes publication. A public performance or display of a work does not of itself constitute publication.

There is always a chance that a publisher may decide, in their opinion, exclusive rights was infringed upon, due to your item being publicly displayed, it is their decision to reject your manuscript, even though it is not correct by law. So, what I would recommend if you do not want to take a chance, assign a passkey to your item "Passkeys" , that way I am the only person to read it, you are protected with no worry.

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