Understanding Copyright for Authors: What You Must Know 📚

Many writers finish a manuscript and jump straight into publishing, unaware of a crucial step—Copyright.

So let’s break it down 👇

✅ What is Copyright?
It’s the legal protection given to your original work; your book, article, poem, etc. as soon as it’s written or typed.
You automatically own it. Yes, even your first draft!

✅ What Does It Do?
It gives YOU, the author, the exclusive rights to:

1. Reproduce the work

2. Publish and distribute it

3. Translate or adapt it

4. Authorize others to use it (and get paid for it)


✅ Do You Need to Register?
Registration isn’t compulsory, but it’s highly recommended, especially if you want to:

• Publicly claim ownership

• Pursue legal action if someone copies your work

• Strengthen your professional publishing profile


✅ In Nigeria, you can register with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
✅ In the U.S., visit copyright.gov.
✅ For online publishers, always include a copyright notice in your book.

✍️ Sample Notice:
© 2025 Oluwasayo Johnson. All rights reserved.

📌 Final Tip: If you hired a ghostwriter, illustrator, or editor, ensure you have a signed agreement outlining who owns what.

Every author deserves to know this.