City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

A little help protecting my comic?

Cal_Naughton_Jr

By Cal_Naughton_Jr,
Posted on: 2007-04-24 20:53 in Multi-Media Fan Creations

 

Posted

Hey all - I've posted here before in regards to my comic. Right now it exists only in script form. I'm now preparing to send a good portion of it to the US Copyright Office.

So- which of the headings found here apply to a comic that has not yet been illustrated?

Once I do this I'd really like to get more people reading my comic. I suspect it will take me the rest of the year to complete it. Currently I have completed 14 issues and I'm looking at about 50 issues total. It is very possible that number could climb higher to reach the conclusion I have in mind.

Thanks for your time and I hope a few of you can read what I've done thus far very soon.

You know, just to throw this out there - I had a whole mess of crepes this morning. They're just like pancakes, maybe even better.

 

Posted

Visual Artwork.

And make sure any characters you make in the comic aren't in CoH on your account(s) because then your in deep tihs.

@Jeffery Duke
Meanwhile...On The Internet...

 

Posted

Thanks MrAwesome. None of my characters exist in CoH- I think I read what you're referring to.

Another question. Rather than spend the rest of the year completing the comic without valuable feedback- do you think I can I copyright the first issue and story synopsis- and go ahead and let people read what I've completed so far?

I hope that makes some sense.

You know, just to throw this out there - I had a whole mess of crepes this morning. They're just like pancakes, maybe even better.

 

Posted

Don't forget that Copyright ONLY covers *exactly what you show the copyright office*. It does NOT cover extras that are added later, such as artwork.

So your script will be 'safe' but once you add artwork that copyright *does not apply to it*.

I'd definitely take a few people and have them read it and critique before you go all out on 50 issues. Having run a comic store I can tell you that a lot of books *shouldn't run* that long. Or, need some kind of help along the way, so that hard work is pretty much null and void.

The process is a lot more complicated than just finding an artist - sometimes some scenes will not work the way you originally think they ought, and have to be changed, etc.

Anyway I'd recommend holding off on copyrighting until you've got a product to sell. Get a few people to sign a simple NDA and hold them to that as a contract not to give it away, and get feedback.

Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed

 

Posted

Thanks Zekiran_Elfmaker. This has already been a huge investment of time. I began work on this last July and while reaction to what I've written thus far has been positive- I need an audience that will be brutally honest.

Since I have nothing to sell and no artist to "wrap" the project into what I had envisioned I'll save my cash for now.

Creating a NDA is something I'm familiar with from my video production days so I can protect myself that way. Great idea. Thanks.

You know, just to throw this out there - I had a whole mess of crepes this morning. They're just like pancakes, maybe even better.

 

Posted

And for what it's worth, I'd be happy to test drive it for you

Please read my FEAR/Portal/HalfLife Fan Fiction!
Repurposed

 

Posted

I'd have to say that a script with no illustrations should be registered as a "Literary Work." (I'm also of the opinion that comic books are registered as "Literary Works," though I have no way of being certain of this.)

I'd also have to say that once illustrations are added, the copyright registration would still be a factor, as an illustrated *version* of the finished script pretty much squarely falls into the definition of a *derivative work* based on the script. Since only the copyright holder has the right to create a derivative work based on the copyrighted material... there you go.

Not to mention that a copyright exists and is in force the moment you are done putting pen/pencil to paper, bits and bytes to hard drive, or however you "fix" your work in "tangible" form.

Good luck!

 

Posted

Thanks Force_Beacon.

I have already sent myself a few copies through certified mail so if all else fails, I have that to help my cause should something go horribly wrong.

I'm torn here... Throw some of my work onto the webbernet and risk some plagiarism or copycat madness. Or... work for the rest of the year on something no one will be interested in...

I hope no one thinks I'm an egomaniac who thinks his story is so great people are ready to yank it out from him. I promise I'm just being cautious with something that is uniquely mine.

You know, just to throw this out there - I had a whole mess of crepes this morning. They're just like pancakes, maybe even better.

 

Posted

I would suggest NOT just tossing it out in the open for all to read.

I would actually suggest getting a core group of people to review your piece, i'd suggest writers and comic book reviewers.

A friend of mine has a blog where she reviews comic books and although she uses internet idiomatics she is VERY insightful in the writings and is someone who is more then happy to be honest when it is required. I'd suggest getting people like that who you can trust (of course make your script is copyrighted BEFORE you get the group together) and go from there.

@Jeffery Duke
Meanwhile...On The Internet...

 

Posted

Yes! I've caught a little break in regards to protecting my creation. We recently hired a new Vice President at our company and his wife is *drumrolllll* a copyright lawyer!

I should be able to get loads of info and direction from those two. I'm super pumped.

I just completed my 15th issue and I'm cooking up a very simple website to go up in July. July being significant because it will mark one year of work.

Thanks again for the replies and I'll try to update again soon.

You know, just to throw this out there - I had a whole mess of crepes this morning. They're just like pancakes, maybe even better.