Can I copyright characters or story plots I have created?

Yes, you can copyright characters or story plots that you have created. Copyright law in California gives creators exclusive intellectual property rights in their work. This means that you have the exclusive right to decide how your work is used, whether through making copies of it, displaying it, or selling it. Copyrights also protect against someone using your work as their own, a practice called copyright infringement. If someone has copied or is using your characters or story plots without your permission, they can be held liable for infringement. In California, copyright protection is generally limited to a ten-year period. This means that if someone infringes on your copyright, you have ten years to bring an action against them in court. If you are concerned about protecting your characters and plotlines, the best way to do so is to register a copyright with the United States Copyright Office. This will give you the official status of copyright owner, as well as a public record indicating your exclusive rights to the characters or plots. It is important to note that copyright registration is not required to get copyright protection, but it does provide additional enforcement options if someone infringes on your work.

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