Is a Blog Post Automatically Protected from Copycats?

By the end of this post you will know at what point your blog post is automatically protected from copycats under copyright law. Let's go!

First, what's protectable about a blog post or vlog?

So first, what does a blog or vlog consists of? Well, it consists of maybe video content, audio-visual content, you've got text, maybe some graphic designs, all of those things are protectable under US copyright law.

They're creative works and under US copyright law something is protected the minute it is "fixed in a tangible medium of expression." That is fancy lawyer talk for no longer just living in your brain, no longer living as an idea. It is fleshed out, it's written out, it's recorded somewhere.

When is a blog post automatically protected?

So is a blog post automatically protected?

Yep! Even before you hit publish, you own the copyright to what you've created there.

Copyright protection and copyright registration are two different things.

A lot of people confuse copyright protection with copyright registration. When you publish or write out that blog post, it automatically has protection. But, it is not automatically registered. You don't HAVE to register your blog post or vlog in order to have copyright protection. Registration is not a prerequisite to copyright protection.

However I DO recommend that you check out my post on three big reasons why to register your website with the Copyright Office. There are some good reasons to register your stuff with  the Copyright Office, and I'll give you a couple little hints. It has to do with boosts in protection and a little cash money in your pocket.

So I hope that this helps you to better understand when a blog is automatically protected from copycats under US copyright law.