Copyright was designed to encourage creators of artistic works of all types by protecting their work from copying and being used without permission. Anything you write or record belongs to you and you have copyright on it. It is always better to file, but it is not required.
The world's first copyright law was the Queen Anne Statute, or "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by vesting the Copies of Printed Books in the Authors or purchasers of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned". It was passed by the English Parliament on 10 April 1710.
The purpose of this was to protect work of authors, but copyright laws have now extended to all forms of media. The Queen Anne Statute was the origin of all modern copyright laws.
Copyright laws are laws that prevent the copying and using of something without the author's consent.
They vary from country to country, but in general they require that the creator of a work of sufficient originality is automatically given the exclusive right to copy, alter, distribute, or perform/display the work, or authorize others to do so, for a limited time (the life of the creator plus 50 years in most countries, although the US and several others have extended it to 70 years).
Copyright regulations are rules issued by the United States Copyright Office that relate to the Office's implementation of the copyright law. They govern things like the format and content of documents submitted to register claims of copyright or to officially record documents relating to a copyright. The regulations are published on the Copyright Office website (linked below) and at 37 CFR 201-270.
Copyright Act, 1957, and Copyright Rules, 1958, as amended.
"to promote the advancement of science and the useful arts."
The original "Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls" was a short story published in 2006. Each of the succeeding novels has its own copyright information.
Using NFL or team logos requires a license; this is an issue of trademark, rather than copyright.
A musical riff would be automatically protected by copyright as soon as it is fixed in a tangible medium (i.e., notated or recorded).
2008 Wimpy Kid, Inc.
There are a few websites one can use to find a copyright attorney. 'Find Law' allows one to search for copyright attorney's by state. 'Contact Law' provides a similar service in the UK.
The copyright page of a book is typically on the reverse of the title page.
The reverse of the title page should have all of the copyright information.
Copyright is automatic, so it will be the date the image was created.
You may only use materials that are your own original work, in the public domain, or for which you have a license from the copyright holder or an exemption in the law.
According to Jagex ( The creators of Runescape ) they are not, they violate copyright rules.