Scenario:You made a scientific discovery and you want to prove that you were the first who made it. Your publication is months (or years) away. What to do?
Solution:
Send yourself a certified letter containing the details of your discovery and do not open it. This way the date of your contribution is certified by the Federal Government and in the future dispute over rights of scientific discovery (or copyright), you have a proof of it. Reportedly, this is the method Hollywood screenplay writers use as so-called "poor man's copyrights."
Does anybody know if this holds in court?
Update:
It looks like the "poor man's copyright" concept does not work. References are provided in the comments below. On of the great things about blogging is the self-correction: if your write something incorrect, somebody will point it out. Thank you.
Idea by: Navin Kedia, DO (publication permitted)
Image source: OpenClipArt.com (public domain)
Yep, would not hold up. A patent handbook singles out this one as a common myth.
ReplyDeleteThe better answer is to document everything and get some (2 at least) sworn witnesses or better get it notarized.
Hi Navin, just came across this when searching for how to copyright songs. To add to the list above is http://www.provemycopyright.com as a modern way to copyright things. /Bob
ReplyDelete