Well, if its something I really like, I better go and pay the copywrite fee and register it then ;) cia, cristy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Kemp" <[email protected]> To: "cristy" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2005 7:28 PM Subject: Re: [VAROOTS] Fw: copyrights, "Fair Use", and genealogy > The "mail to yourself" rule applies in some countries (ie: Britian) but it > does not do anything for you in the US. It is covered by copyright the > moment you write it, HOWEVER... If you haven't registered it you might > have a hard time proving ownership. Mailing it to yourself does not prove > legal ownership in the US. > > And it's copyright, as in the right to copy > > Tim > > cristy wrote: > >> I always heard as a former songwriter want a bee, that if I wrote a song >> and then mailed it to myself and kept it sealed, that would be proof of >> my copywrite? > > >

While the self-mail does not create, prove or affect ownership, it does provide evidence for future use of a date certain prior to which that material/photo/document was in existence, no matter from where/who it came. Paul Drake JD Genealogist & Author <www.DrakesBooks.com> 931-484-9129