Poor Man’s Copyright for Los Angeles

Posted by Paolo Rubino+

Someone asked us a while back about “Poor man’s copyright “. Well, that was a method used in the past by using the good old US Postal Service, and maybe even a notary public, to show that a certain material had been in one’s possession since a particular time.

The principle behind this concept was based on the notion that, in the event of such intellectual property being misused by a third party, the poor man’s copyright would at least establish a pre-recorded date of possession before any proof a third party may try to prove. So authors and writers originally were sending copies to themselves via mail, without actually opening the envelopes in the hope that in case of litigation the opening of the dated letter in front of the judge would give them legal protection by establishing a date at which the work was created.

Use of this method may not hold up in a court as it is simple for individuals to pre-send envelopes which can then be used later by placing the materials inside. Maybe that’s why there is no such provision or protection in the US copyright law. Poor man’s copyright is therefore not a substitute for registration. The good news is that even a poor man can afford The Document People inexpensive charge to assist with a copyright!

The Document People is a network of legal document assistants and paralegals in Los Angeles with a common purpose: helping customers with their copyright petition in Los Angeles. We are looking forward to offering assistance with your copyright filing in our offices in Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, Glendale, San Fernando, Torrance, Anaheim and Oceanside. Santa Monica We The People, Woodland Hills We The People.

The information contained in this blog – including information of a legal nature – is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.

Poor Mans Copyright