[LizardQueen]

Over the past 5 years or so I've invented some kids games for my nephews, as well as written some childrens books for them. I've gotten a lot of comments of the "you should publish and sell that" variety, and I want to finally get off my rear-end and investigate it, but I don't even know where to start.

I don't think I want to self-publish because of the cost - would rather work with an established place that I'd get royalties from. I'm also afraid of approaching these places wrong, as I'm afraid they may snitch the ideas.

Any help would be much appreciated.

LQ/Tweak

[Chills]

I would suggest you contact the Library of Congress... I think that is what it is called. It is probably available on line... You can get info regarding copyright there...and the how to do it etcs.


I would also suggest you seek out an agent rather than a publisher.

There is a magazine called Writers and another that is called Writers Digest ...or something like that...
A search on line would turn them up I am sure.
They have alot of helpful hints etc.

Good luck

EDITED TO ADD...LINK TO WRITERS MAGAZINE (http://www.writersservices.com/mag/)


and heres a link US COPYRIGHT OFFICE (http://www.copyright.gov/)

I hope that helps

[MrO]

I can tell you a bit about getting a patent. Perhaps the most cost-effective option for someone who's interested in shopping around an idea (I imagine that games are patentable processes, but do look into that, I'm more familiar with software), is to obtain a provisional patent.

A provisional patent is an inexpensive, temporary patent that you can receive for the duration of one year. It's non-renewable (ie. once time's up, you'll need a full patent to protect your idea), but it otherwise grants you protection just like a normal patent does.

You can file a provisional patent yourself, or have a patent lawyer do it for you. If you file yourself, it will cost something on the order of $100 or so (go to www.uspo.gov for the fee schedule). Patent lawyers will typically charge several $100's for a provisional patent. To contrast, a full patent costs several $1000's of dollars to file.

With a provisional patent in hand, you can safely shop an idea around to potential publishers.

[rb.]

And in the meantime, if you'd like, here's a super cheap way my ex-boyfriend's band used to do it to "copyright" their songs before the offical copyright. Write up everything about the game, stuff it in a sealed envelope, and mail it to yourself. Leave it unopened and put it away. Don't know how it would stand up under the law, but a possible measure until you have something more official.

[MrO]

rb. It's a reasonable first step to take. Once things get interesting, of course, then one should register the copyright.

Aside: By law, the author of a work has a copyright on a work the moment it's produced, whether that copyright is registered or not, and the author can not lose rights under copyright unless he or she explicitly signs them away.

A registered letter will serve as a reasonable proof for purposes of most courts early on. Registering a copyright, however, will make it easier for you to go to court, especially in cases where foreign copyright violators are concerned (the copyright protocols are a treaty, and the subject of reciprocal laws in signatories' jurisdictions - details vary, but the basic copyrights are the same).

[big kumara]

Check out:

http://www.writers.net/