3 ms·

Writing is protected by copyright the instant it's written.

• pfdietz 1y ago
  That's true now. It wasn't true when this was written. Back then, US copyright depended on publication and registration.
  • jt2190 1y ago
    I'll leave this for you to parse. > § 303 > Duration of copyright: Works created but not published or copyrighted before January 1, 1978 > (a) Copyright in a work created before January 1, 1978, but not theretofore in the public domain or copyrighted, subsists from January 1, 1978, and endures for the term provided by section 302. In no case, however, shall the term of copyright in such a work expire before December 31, 2002; and, if the work is published on or before December 31, 2002, the term of copyright shall not expire before December 31, 2047
    • velcrovan 1y ago
      So you're right in that it was retroactively protected by copyright the moment it was written, but, without more information than this, it seems at least possible that the copyright on this work has now expired.
      • bryanrasmussen 1y ago
        doesn't seem possible. It says that it should follow 302 as if it was published in 1978 if it was not heretofore copyrighted, and it wasn't, and it should follow section 302 which starts with "Copyright in a work created on or after January 1, 1978, subsists from its creation and, except as provided by the following subsections, endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years after the author’s death." seems like it should be out of copyright in 2039.
    • pfdietz 1y ago
      That's useful, thanks.