How do you legally create a pen name?

You can register a manuscript under a pen name at the copyright office (www.copyright.gov). You'll have to provide some information, including your real address. But if you really want to keep your true identity under wraps, set up a post office box and have information from the office sent there.

Does a pen name need to be registered?

There's no real legal process to using a pen name – typically you can just pick one and use it. While most states have laws requiring people doing business under another name to register with the state, these laws generally don't apply to writers using pen names.

How much does it cost to copyright a pen name?

Yes, if you haven't written yet, you can still have a pen name. Does copyrighting something cost money? Yes, $35-$55 if you do it yourself or $250-$500 if you hire an attorney to help you.

Can you self publish under a pen name?

Using a pen name when self-publishing is easier, because you have more control as a self-publisher. If, on the other hand, a publishing company is involved, they may be concerned that your choice to remain anonymous could negatively impact the marketing of your book.

Do I need a DBA for a pen name?

You don't need a DBA for a pen name. You can buy a domain for a pen name and simply mask the site owner info (it costs more to do this, but not all that much). And with a domain, you can also set up email.

Register and Legally Use a Pen Name

Are pen names illegal?

Are pen names legal? Yes, an author can legally use a pen name or pseudonym to publish their intellectual property. Pen names are legal, as long as you have purchased the rights to your pen name, and have copyrighted your name.

Do I need to trademark a pen name?

Legal Myth No. 1: Authors cannot register copyrights for creative work under a pen name. Copyrights protect whatever work a writer creates, automatically. While authors tend to use their legal names to register copyrights, authors can register a copyright under their pen names, or both if they like.

Why you shouldn't use a pen name?

Pen names can complicate social gatherings, especially if you forget and introduce yourself to someone under your given name, or fail to respond when someone calls you by your pen name. Also, conferences and signings may become challenging if you're juggling two names.

How long does a copyright last if you use a pseudonym?

For works created on or after January 1, 1978, the copyright in a pseudonymous work expires 95 years from the year of publication or 120 years from the year of creation, whichever is shorter.

How do I trademark a name for free?

You can not register a trademark for free. However, you can establish something known as a "common law trademark" for free, simply by opening for business. The benefit of relying on common law trademark rights is that it's free, and you don't need to do any specific work filling out forms, etc.

How do you trademark a name or copyright?

Registering a trademark for a company name is pretty straightforward. Many businesses can file an application online in less than 90 minutes, without a lawyer's help. The simplest way to register is on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Web site, www.uspto.gov.

How do you protect unpublished writing?

To protect written ideas and stories, apply for a copyright from the U.S. Copyright Office and pay the $30 fee to register your work. If you have a script, you can register it with the Writer's Guild of America. Just submit it to them with a check for the fee, which is less than $25.

Can I use a pen name for my business?

Having a business with a fictitious name is definitely legal, provided that you have filed the proper documentation (such as registering your business, incorporating, or filing a “doing business as” statement), and carried out the proper trademark searches.

How do I find out if a pen name is taken?

Consider a visit to the U.S. Trademark Office, or the trademark office in your local country, to double check you're not using a trademarked title as your pen name. You can land yourself in some legal hot water if you use a trademarked name or title, so make sure your desired name is not already taken.

Can you register a copyright anonymously?

Answer: You do not need to include your legal name in the registration record if you are registering an “anonymous work” or a “pseudonymous work.” An anonymous work is defined by the Copyright Act as a work where “no natural person is identified as author” on the copies or phonorecords of the work.

Why did J.K. Rowling change her name to Robert Galbraith?

She chose the moniker because Robert is one of her favourite names and Robert F Kennedy is her hero. When she created the Robert Galbraith pseudonym, she gave him a military background, as she said it was the “easiest and most plausible reason for Robert to know how the Special Investigation Branch operates.”

How did J.K. Rowling get found out as Robert Galbraith?

Rowling's secret identity was actually revealed after a partner at a law firm told his wife's best friend. The friend then revealed Rowling's identity to a Sunday Times journalist. "I was a bit unlucky the way it happened," the Harry Potter creator told BBC Radio 2's Graham Norton.

What is Stephen King's pen name?

Richard Bachman (1977–1985) is a pen name (as well as fictional character) of American horror fiction author Stephen King.

Can two authors have the same name?

Yes, you can write under your real name. Such use is not trademark use all on its own. It matters not whether there are other authors by the same name.

Can I publish on Amazon under a pseudonym?

Yes, you can publish on Amazon with a pseudonym , to preserve your identity, for whatever reason. You can do the same thing on Nook, iBooks, Smashwords and Kobobooks.

Do writers use their real name?

For centuries, the use of pseudonyms has been implemented in writing by various notable authors wanting to conceal their true identities. Writers use pseudonyms for a variety of reasons, and many successful, classic writers are more widely known by their pen names than their real ones.

Should I trademark my author name?

Yes an authors name can be used as a trademark if the name is used on goods or services. For example if someone writes textbooks and provides workbooks and other products that go with the book, then the author could trademark the name. More information would be required before proceeding.

Can I use a pen name on Facebook?

Facebook: Facebook only lets you establish a personal profile under your real name but you can create pages for your pen names. Pages are similar to profiles but a page can be used for commercial purposes while a profile is for personal use only.

How many pen names can you have?

Amazon will only let you have three pen names under one Author Central account. It isn't TERRIBLE to have multiple pen names (more on that below), but if you can keep things easy, DO. If you're writing books that are related or might have a larger crossover audience, then don't do a pen name.