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Your #1 Resource For: Starting a Successful Scrapbooking Business Growing Your Existing Scrapbook Business Insider Information on the $3 Billion+ Scrapbook Industry |
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By Sue DiFranco It is imperative that you copyright, patent, and/or trademark your work. Why? Though it is nice to think that no one will rip you off, the sad truth is that they might. And if you don't take the necessary steps to protect yourself now, you could be in for a messy legal battle or (even worse) forced to stand by and do absolutely nothing. Conduct a trademark search on your business name and slogan. Conduct a patent search on your product. Guarantee that it’s open property, and then register yours right away. Sure, it’s one of the more tedious parts of doing business (and also a bit of an expense), but if someone “comes up” with your exact slogan or product a year down the road, you’ll be happy that you are officially the owner. The same idea applies to book authors. Copyright law states that as soon as a book is written, it is automatically protected. But you should go ahead and file the copyright papers anyway, because if someone does steal your work, you’ll have a better chance of having it held up in court. Protect yourself from would-be thieves. If you are allowing people to test-drive your product or read your manuscript, have them sign a nondisclosure agreement. It doesn’t matter if they are your best scrappin’ buddy, or someone you’ve just met. Of course it will be difficult asking someone to whom you’re close to sign a document saying they will not steal your work. But it’s very necessary. Though for the most part, the scrappin' community is very tight and supportive, there are a few who stray from the herd. Our first book, Secrets of Scrapbooking Success, appeared as a near-identical book a year later by a woman author who had offered to "edit our manuscript." (Yes, I trusted her. Silly me.) You may have seen her book - many people get the two of us confused. (After reading hers, I can see why. Chapters, slogans, and even exact quotes are the same as in our book!) Protect yourself and your work. If you used your brain, your time, and your energy to create something, don’t let anyone take it away. Resources: The Copyright Office U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:
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