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Copyrights are a wonderful thing. You write a book, or you create a product like a CD, DVD, journal or planner, and you’ve put a lot of time, energy and your own personal knowledge and experience into it. It makes sense that you would want to protect that book or product – and copyright is the way to do it!

Official copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office creates a public record of your authorship and officially recognizes you as the copyright holder in a court of law. Set it up right and you’ll have the full weight of the government on your side. Set it up wrong, or don’t set it up at all, and protecting your work if it is stolen becomes much, much more complicated.

You may think that something like this will never happen to you, but in the U.S. there is over $16 billion in loss of revenue to copyright owners each year, showing that it can and does happen quite often. Think of the hours and effort you put into your most recent book, special report, coaching CD or information product. Now imagine seeing that very same book or product for sale on another person's website. They might change the cover image or title to make it seem different, but inside are your words, your programs, and your original ideas.

It’s devastating. We know, because we’ve been through this ourselves. That’s why you need to make sure your copyright is set up the right way.

Here’s how to copyright your materials – and one big mistake to avoid

Here at Vervante, we offer copyright registration services – or you can choose to set it up yourself. Here’s how, and the answers to some common questions:

• Vervante copyright services: Log in to your Author Account on the Vervante website and navigate to the "Copyright Registration" page under the Services menu. Fill out the information and submit your request. One of our publishing experts will complete the application on your behalf and submit a copy of your book to the Copyright Registration Office, ensuring that your copyright is correctly set up.
• Setting up your own copyright: The U.S. Copyright Office website, www.copyright.gov., has an easy online application process. Complete the form provided on the website, pay the application fee, and follow their directions for sending a copy of your book to the copyright office. You can place the order for the book in your Vervante account for this.

What does copyright protect? Copyright protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed.

Do I have to register with the U.S. Copyright Office to be protected? No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work.

Can I just put the copyright symbol in my work and I’m protected? No. And this is what we really wanted to warn you to watch out for. Merely typing in a © in the title page or anywhere in your product does not give you the full protection of filing with the U.S. Copyright Office. To copyright your materials, you MUST file with the copyright office.

How soon can I publish my book after applying for a copyright? As soon as you want. Once you have submitted the application and a copy of your book, you do not need to wait for the copyright certificate to proceed with promoting and publishing your book. You are free to log into your Vervante author account to have your book printed and your orders shipped.

How long does a copyright last? As a general rule copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.

We hope this helped – and we’re here to answer any copyright questions you might have. Just drop us a line at [email protected] or schedule a phone call by clicking here.

Bottom line? Your book is the result of your hard labor and intellectual brilliance. Taking the step to protect your work, once you’ve written and published, is quick, easy and the best way to give you peace of mind.

When you ask people to blurt out the first thing they think of for catalogs, you’re probably likely to hear things like “Sears” or “Pottery Barn.” As much as our mothers may have loved the catalogs they received back in the day, today’s catalogs are breaking new ground and being used by savvy entrepreneurs and businesses to share information well beyond a simple lists of products.

In fact, we’re pretty excited about the things we’re seeing people do with catalogs these days. Businesses small and large are using catalogs to share their brand story, give their audience a new way to learn and connect, share news and showcase events, services, products and other offerings.

Catalogs drive sales, yes. But they also help build loyal fans by capturing their interest, providing multiple ways to connect, and sharing unique and colorful images and content that build interest and trust in what your business provides.

Here are a few important things catalogs can do for you:

• Tell your brand story: A mix of articles, images and messages along with product or service offerings in a catalog inspired emotional connections with readers.
• Boost credibility: A colorful, information-filled catalog inspired confidence and creates credibility.
• Synergize with social media: In a digital-focused world, printed catalogs offer a unique and strong complement to online marketing that has the same targeting ability as many social media channels. For instance, you can send catalogs only to specific customers who have visited your website, or worked with you in a specific way. Another idea would be to create alternate covers for your catalogs that appeal to different segments of your target audience, focusing in on what will capture their attention the best.
• And yes, increase sales. Sharing your products and services in this way offers a format for readers to pick up what you’re putting out there again and again, in venues that social media can’t get to.

If you’re interest in creating a catalog for your business, we can help. First, you need to understand the product itself. Here’s the secret: it’s simply a saddle-stitch booklet, easy to create and easy on your budget. Next, decide on your content. Don’t be hindered by old-fashioned ideas of what catalogs should be. Create your own unique product by mixing up content and staying true to your brand and message.

Catalogs can be any dimension and any number of pages. You can email us at [email protected] to ask any questions and receive a free quote. And we’re happy to put you in touch with one of our publishing experts to brainstorm ideas. Don’t forget, we now offer services to schedule phone conversations, just use the link from our Contact page.

We're excited to share something new we've set up for connecting with Vervante customer support - an online phone appointment system. This is a quick-and-easy way to schedule a phone call directly with one of our publishing experts here at Vervante HQ. Here's how it works:

1. Click HERE or on the link provided on the Contact Us page of our website.
2. Your local time zone should be filled in, but it's always good to check.
3. Select an open appointment time by clicking on it. If you want to see future dates, just click on the arrow on the right side of the page.
4. Fill in the required contact information and submit.
5. You're all set!

You will receive a confirmation email with all the information. If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, you can do so by clicking in the links provided in your confirmation emails. We're so excited to be able to offer this additional level of service and can't wait to hear about your newest projects.