If you’re thinking of applying for a copyright, you may be concerned with how much personal information the general public will have access to. You’re going to be putting a lot of personal information on that application. Does the public have access to see those forms and see that information?
The public does get to see the final copyright forms and the record that you hold affirming your intellectual property. This means that any personal information on the record is available to the public. It is a public record and they can access it if they so choose. Most people do not, of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that the information is out there.
In the modern era, it’s also important to point out that this information is available online. People do not have to contact the Copyright Office to get it. They do have that choice, but they can also find it online, print it out, and use it as they see fit.
By virtue of what you’re trying to do, safeguarding your intellectual property so that no one else can use it, you are making it publicly available. With that in mind, remember that you do have the option to use a pseudonym or pen name. You still have to alert the Copyright Office of this change, but to some degree, you will be able to hide your real name and still get the copyright.
Protecting your information is very important and it’s crucial not to overlook any important steps. As you get started, it can help to reach out to legal professionals who have done it all before. Contact us today to learn about how we can help.