Legal Question in Intellectual Property in New York

Re: Copyright for assumed name

I would not recommend that you copyright anything in a pen name, but only in your given name. I would also recommend that you a file a federal trademark on your pen name since this is the only way that you can protect yourself in these instances.

Good Luck!!

Pat Tracy

Re: Copyright for assumed name

Actually, the copyright office does allow a person to file a copyright form under a pseudonym, or fictitious name. The form states, "[a]n author's contribution to a work is 'pseudonymous' if that author is identified on the copies or phonorecords under a fictitious name." The form gives you the option as to whether you would like to reveal the "real" name associated with the pseudonym or not. Their example, "Judith Barton, whose pseudonym is Madeline Elster."

In addition to copyrighting the work in a pseudonym, you would also want to file forms to be recognized by your state under that fictitious name. Since you plan to post the work on the Internet, you will also want to trademark the pseudonym.