since I saw in the discussion about the supreme court ruling over grokster et-al:
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-11189-0.html?forumID=3&threadID=176952&messageID=1798888
that most people seem to have a serious lack of knowledge on the subject.
they are assuming that copyright is only when you have gone through some process to be given it.
it’s not.
copyriht exists at the moment that any work is completed.
when you write a letter / email to your mom, as soon as you finish it. ( sign it ) it is copyrighted.
at that time you would have the onus of proving that you created the item.
if you go to the government agency, and register the copyrighted material with them, before sending it, then they have a copy of it, and a record that you created the document, and thier records are usable in court.
some myths with facts about them secific for copyright and p2p sharing:
Myth: File Sharing is legal. FACT: File sharing is only legal when sharing items that you are the copyright holder of or that is in the public domain.
Myth: I can burn CDs of items I?ve purchased for sharing. FACT: IT IS NOT legal to make them available to others (Like burning to CDs for others, share them on peer-to-peer services like Kazaa, put on the Web?even for free). It is legal to save purchased items to your hard drive or burn to personal CDs.
Myth: There is no harm in being a member of a file sharing site. FACT: Joining any file-sharing site, means you are most likely sharing the items you have on your computer?including items you do not own the rights to make available to other. Any time you download a file from there you are automatically making it available to the world when you are online and your computer is at risk for getting viruses. You can be liable for up to $150,000 per item.
Myth: A friend used my computer, so I can not be held liable. FACT: You can be held liable for damages if someone else uses your computer or Internet access to share files illegally.
Myth: Permission isn?t need on public domain items. FACT: You could be violating other laws, such as Trademark, Patent, Privacy or Publicity laws, even if an items copyright has expired. Some items (like items marked anonymous) are presumed public domain when they are not.
Myth: If I change enough of an original work or make a different format or version, it?s considered fair use. FACT: You can be held liable for copyright infringement for derivated works.
Myth: Only US citizens can register or use the benefits of U.S. copyright laws. FACT: Copyright protection is available for all unpublished works, regardless of the nationality or domicile of the author.
Myth: Copyright protection cost too much for individuals FACT: A copyright registration is $30 and a collection of works can be registered as one item. Legal action for violations can get expensive, but certificates of ownership along with cease and desist letters can resolve problems without large expenses.
Myth: If there is no copyright mark, it?s public domain FACT: A copyright notice is not required in order to have copyright protection.
Myth: Fair Use allows me to use small amounts of works that have a copyright without infringing. FACT: The ?amount? is just one factor in Fair Use. The other factors would all also lean towards fair use, and although it?s a small amount as far as quantity goes, I could be violating the rights based on the amount in reference to quality.
some links to different places for the legal reading on copyright, and a few for registering copyright.
http://www.biblit.it/BIBLIT%202%20LEGGI/Conv-Berna.pdf
http://www.prs.co.uk/
http://www.cla.co.uk/
http://www.copyright.org.au/
http://www.wipo.int/
http://www.uspto.gov/
http://www.copyright.gov/
