Copyright and Plagiarism for Independent Authors
What copyright actually protects, how to prove your work is yours, and what to do if someone copies it.
Copyright Basics
Copyright confuses a lot of independent authors. Here is what you actually need to know.
Copyright Is Automatic
In the UK, copyright exists the moment you create an original work. There is no registration, no fee, and no symbol required. The © symbol is a courtesy, not a legal requirement.
What It Protects
Copyright protects your specific expression of an idea — the actual words, structure, and characters as written — not the underlying idea, facts, or general plot concept itself.
How Long It Lasts
In the UK, copyright typically lasts for the author's lifetime plus 70 years.
Proving It Is Yours
If your work is ever disputed, having evidence of when you created it matters.
Timestamped Evidence
Emailing a draft to yourself, dated cloud-storage version history, or a dated printout can all help establish when you created something.
Registered Services
Optional paid services, such as the UK Copyright Service, offer a formal dated registration. This is not legally required to hold copyright, but some authors find it reassuring.
Submission Records
Once published through Tales From A Harrogate Caravan, your submission date and our records serve as one form of evidence of when your work existed.
If You Think You Have Been Plagiarised
It happens, and it is worth knowing the sensible first steps.
Gather Evidence First
Save copies, dates, and links before contacting anyone. Screenshots and archived pages are useful if content gets taken down or edited.
Contact the Platform
Most platforms, including Amazon and blogging services, have a copyright or takedown process for exactly this situation. Report it directly to them with your evidence.
Get In Touch
If you are not sure what to do next, get in touch and we will help you think it through.
Related Guides
If your work involves real people, our defamation guide is worth a read. If you are considering registering an ISBN, that is covered separately too.
Questions About Your Rights?
We work with independent authors at every stage. Get in touch and we will point you in the right direction.
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