Ep 139: How Indie Authors Can Shield Their Book from Copyright Infringement

Write the Damn Book Already

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Copyright. Piracy. LibGen. AI scraping. If just reading that list makes you want to hide under your desk with a bottle of...something...you’re not alone. Indie authors are being forced to navigate a landscape that feels murkier by the day, and most of us didn’t exactly sign up to become copyright attorneys.

Unfortunately, the “poor man’s copyright” trick (mailing yourself a sealed copy of your manuscript) I used to suggest won’t do a thing to protect you in 2025. What does matter? Understanding when and how to formally register your copyright, what that three-month filing window really means, and how to handle it when you discover your book has been pirated.

In this episode, I break down:

• Whether copyright registration is worth the time and money for indie authors
• What to do (and what not to do) if your book shows up on LibGen or other shady sites
• The difference between healthy protection and exhausting paranoia

I’ll show you how to balance protecting your work with staying focused on what really matters—building genuine connections with readers who do want to support you.

Want to go deeper? Check out Jenn Hansen-dePaula’s conversation with attorney Olivia Maynes for a legal perspective here: https://jenndepaula.com/podcast/90

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1. Ep 139: How Indie Authors Can Shield Their Book from Copyright Infringement (00:00:00)

2. Welcome and Copyright Introduction (00:02:10)

3. The Evolution of Copyright Concerns (00:04:26)

4. Poor Man's Copyright vs. Official Registration (00:08:48)

5. Understanding LibGen Piracy (00:15:38)

6. Steps to Combat Book Piracy (00:20:55)

7. Key Takeaways and Resources (00:27:40)