h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How can I copyright a piece of text (e.g. a short story), an image or picture (e.g. a piece of artwork or photography on my web site), or a computer program? (I'm in Britain, by the way)

You can't. If you wrote it, and you're in Britain, then you automatically have copyright on it - that's what copyright is.

Now, *proving* that you own the copyright is probably what you really mean. IANAL, but this can take many forms, and can consist of getting verification from an independent party - a common way is to send it to a solicitor via registered delivery. Actually, you can probably just get the solicitor to put it in escrow, without all that tedious mucking around with the Royal Mail.

Of course, solicitors are much like pelicans, especially in their enthusiasm for large bills. An easier and cheaper (and less reliable/watertight?) method is to post it to yourself and leave it sealed in the envelope with the Royal Mail dated postmark on the stamp. You then produce this in court/presence of esteemed individual to be opened should your word be questioned.

Tim

PS. IANAL = I Am Not A Lawyer (Can ya tell? )

Aaah... that's cleared a lot up for me! Thanks. (Oh and I guessed IANAL after a bit of head scratching!) So if I put a picture I've created onto my web site, I can put (c)2000 Ian Ferguson or similar beneath it. (And have it mean something!)

Cheers!

Above text (C)2000 TDV & Ian Ferguson

Just make sure that you read the small print and check that in agreeing to put something on a website you don't end up handing control of what you write to someone else.