Writing.Com General Discussion

Tobber is correct - as soon as you write a work, copyright is automatic. However, if you claim copyright, even on a site like WdC, for work you have not created, then that can be considered theft, especially with the AI lawsuits.

Two of my books are involved in the AI class action lawsuits, but both publishers registered copyright, so I should get some compensation. So, registering copyright in the USA can help with things like that.

Elsewhere in the world, there is generally not a registration process. In Australia, where I live, you have automatic copyright, no registration required. I think that is why the AI companies have not scraped here because literally anyone in Australia who has put a two-line poem online can join the class action suit. I believe the same situation exists in the UK. I do not know about Canada. In Japan, copyright is not automatic, but that is all I know.

Most trad publishers consider publication online open to the public as "published" so here I would recommend setting it to registered users and higher at the very least so your work cannot be accessed and generally will not be considered published.

The world of publishing is in a state of flux. It is better to be safe than sorry.

With AI stealing everything (nailed down or not), we as writers need to be careful.