Question: I've got a great idea for a book, what is the procedure for protecting my idea?

Answer: Protecting ideas is a difficult thing because that is all they are, ideas. There is no official body where an author can register ideas and there is nothing to say someone else in another town hasn't come up with the same idea at the same time as you. Their book may end up being different in detail from yours, but it could cover the same ground. It would be very hard to prove that they hadn't thought of the idea first.

Question: I've written a book and I want to protect my copyright before I send it out to publishers?

Answer: Under New Zealand law the author of a work is the copyright owner. This copyright can be licensed for use to other parties, for example a publisher to publish a book, but it cannot be used by another person without permission. To show that you are the copyright owner you can use the © symbol on each page along with your name and the year and post a copy of the manuscript to yourself leaving the envelope unopened.

Question: What is the procedure for using other writers' material in my work?

Answer: You must ask for and receive permission from the copyright holder of the work to use it in a publication. This is generally the author but not always. It could be the publisher if the author has assigned copyright to them and it could also be the authors' estate if they are deceased. Check in the front of the book you want to reference: it should be printed there. Sometimes the copyright holder will want payment for the use of their work. This will need to be negotiated. If you are doing a review of the book for publication in a magazine or newspaper then it is normally allowed without having to seek permission.

Question: When does an author's work enter the public domain?

Answer: Generally 50 years after their death. However, sometimes the copyright is held by the estate and can be extended beyond 50 years.