Is saving a computer file proof?

[breakaway]

If I saved a file of something on my computer using Windows, and it has the "created" date there (and shows that it hasn't been modified since), does that act as sufficient proof of the creation date in legal case?

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

And if someone changes the date on their Windows computer and saves the file to a date earlier than your date?

 

[The Occultist]

Simple registry editing (and I do mean simple) can make it look like a file was created on a different date.

 

[breakaway]

okay good points....
what if I uploaded a file onto e-mails such as hotmail, gmail or yahoo?

 

[The Occultist]

Nope, still no good. Changing dates is still very easy. If I turn my spam filter off, you have no idea how many new emails I get with weird dates. These "new" emails will range in dates from 10 years ago to 70 years into the future!

 

[divgradcurl]

Proof of what? And why do you need such proof?

For copyright purposes, the best way to establish proof of when a particular item was created is to register the copyright.

But the answer to your original question is "maybe." All of the "what if's" posited by the other posters do not necessarily mean that your "proof" isn't good enough. It depends on what you are trying to prove, in what context.

 

[breakaway]

The Occultist, I see what you're saying, maybe I could post something up on a forum on the internet as proof?

divgradcurl, I guess I just want to have some sort of back-up method of copyright. What if someone sees my work once I publish it and very quickly tries to register copyright for it themself? I don't really know how long the process of registering a copyright takes with the mail and all that.

 

[quincy]

If this is for your written work and not your characters, you could register with the Writer's Guild of America - it does not provide the protection of copyright, but gives added proof of your copyright. You can also add a copyright notice on your drawings - name, copyright symbol and date of copyright. This is not required any more, as every work completed is already copyrighted, but it does give notice of your copyright to others.

 

[seniorjudge]

Get it copyrighted before you publish it.

Simple.

(I've had copyrighted material stolen....)

 

[divgradcurl]

divgradcurl, I guess I just want to have some sort of back-up method of copyright. What if someone sees my work once I publish it and very quickly tries to register copyright for it themself? I don't really know how long the process of registering a copyright takes with the mail and all that.

Registration takes months, but the registration date is the date on which the complete application is received by the Copyright office. As soon as the copyright office gets it, you are set.

But beyond that, keeping a copy that is unchanged is not a bad idea -- maybe you could write it to some sort of writeable media (DVD or something) to you always have a copy with the current creation and edit date info that can't be changed, if you want to be extra careful.

 

[mike_lee]

.

Copyright is automatically assigned when you create a work.

There was a man who went to sea
saw the world and that was me.
© by mike lee


That's now © However proving it is a whole other thing, even registering it with the library of congress doesn't help - you still have to go to court.

 

[quincy]

You should add a date there, too, Mike.

The copyright notice, name and date are no longer necessary to show copyright - as you said, every work once completed is automatically copyrighted. Registering the copyright, however, gives you added protection should someone infringe on your work.

Nice poem. -

 

[davezan]

Nice poem. -

I thought it's the start of a limerick.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

A poor man's copyright involves mailing a copy of your work to yourself and leaving the envelope sealed.