How can I copyright my script.

How can I copyright my PHP script? Any websites that make this step easy?

And what would be the TOTAL Cost, and cost break down of this?

 

you send it to the wga or mail it to youself sealed registered mail and some friends too.

 

you can put your signature into your script .

 

What about total cost?

Thanks

 

From what I have heard, just saying "Copyright 2009" really does copyright it to your name. Because, stealing an idea is illegal. At least in Canada. I don't know about American Law but thats the idea I get from Canadian!

 

Your script is copyrighted the moment you create it.

 

I think this statement is true, now, if you asked about protecting it, thats a different story.

 

In Australia (where I am from) as soon as you write down an idea, it's copyrighted. If you want to make sure your users don't take off "Powered by blah blah, copyright blah blah" then just encode it

 

@OP, where are you from? If you are in the US (or really any other signatories of the berne convention) than your script is protected by copyright laws the moment you COMPLETE it. So long as it is original code. What comes next is figuring out how to protect it. As others have said, if you send it to yourself sealed registered mail you have at least taken one step to prove ownership. However, you would need the seal to be notarized as well (at least that's what I'd do) If you are looking to be able to seek recovery of legal fees and have a hard date set in stone by the givernment, visit copyright.gov (if you're in the US)

If you register your copyrighted work with the copyright office (US) than you have a date which you can use to show a court that you do, in fact, own the work. If it's registered than you also have the ability to seek higher damages and legal fees, as opposed to not having it registered where you are only entitled to actual proven loss.

Be advised, if you are in the US and someone hosted in the US is using your script, you can send a DMCA notice. However, you will be required to show proof that you own the work and are the original copyright holder. You would also have to prove the fact you are the original copyright owner in a court. I've had numerous DMCA notices sent by competitors and have actually taken legal action against a host for not demanding proof of ownership of the copyright. All they have to do is file a counter claim and you can't do anything really (unless you prove the copyright is yours and yours alone).

Also, what kind of license do you plan on releasing the script under?