Excerpted from The Copyright Handbook by attorney Stephen Fishman by Nolo Press.

1. Copyright protects any original creative work that is fixed in a tangible medium . This includes books, films, scripts, paintings, sheet music, recorded music performances, software code, artwork, sculptures, photographs, and architectural designs.

2. The work is protected, not the idea . Ideas and facts can be used freely-copyright only protects the expression of the idea, not the idea itself.

3. The work is protected the moment is written (or created) . Copyright protection begins the moment a work is typed, handwritten, filmed, dictated or otherwise fixed in tangible form.

4. Authors have exclusive rights over their work. Only authors have the rights to make copies of their work, sell or distribute copies to the public, create adaptations, and display the work in public.

5. If it's not protected, it's in public domain. Any work that is not protected by copyright is in the public domain and is freely available. Everything published more than 75 years ago, like Shakespeare's work, is now in the public domain in the United States.

6. Copyright lasts a lifetime. For works created after 1977, copyright lasts the life of the author plus 50 years. For works created before 1978, copyright generally lasts for 75 years.

7. It's a good idea to include a copyright notice on all written works . Although it's not required, by including a notice, it's easier to win a copyright infringement case because the infringer cannot claim ignorance.

8. Include the copyright symbol, name, and date. A copyright notice should include the copyright symbol , the name of the author or owner of the copyright, and the date of publication.

9. If the work is valuable, register it with the U.S. Copyright Office. Although registration is not mandatory, it gives anyone who is infringed upon the right to get attorney's fees and statutory damages up to $100,000 in an infringement suit. to register, fill out an application from with one or two copies of the work (depending on whether it's been published or not), and submit it to the Copyright Office.

10. Copyright protects yours works online-as long as they are your own. However, it does not protect any bright ideas that you share online.

This new edition of The Copyright Handbook by Attorney Stephen Fishman spells out in plain English the nitty-gritty of copyright law, and explains to online users, and anyone else who creates written works, what they need to know about copyright infringement, protection and registration. For anyone who works with words-scriptwriters, fiction and nonfiction authors publishers, Inventors, Entrepreneurs, librarians or bulletin board operators-The Copyright Handbook is as essential as a dictionary. This new edition thoroughly explains how to use and protect written works including: How to register a written work with the copyright office How copyrights work online When to draw the line on "fair use" of your work How to get international copyright protection The latest developments from the GATT agreement All the forms necessary to protect your work, and more... Contains a disk containing the following agreements and forms: Work for Hire Letter, Collaboration Agreements, Copyright Assignment Agreement, Copyright License Agreement, Permissions Request Letter and more. The Copyright Handbook is the definitive resource for writers-ensuring their words remain their own.