Does mailing it to yourself work? The poor man's copyright
Updated November 13, 2026
The idea is simple: mail yourself a copy of your work, leave the envelope sealed, and the postmark proves when you made it. It is sometimes called a "poor man's copyright." It costs a stamp. Unfortunately, it does not do what people hope.
What the Copyright Office says
The U.S. Copyright Office says there is nothing in copyright law that gives this kind of protection, and that it is not a substitute for registration.
Why it falls short
- You already own the copyright. You owned it the moment you made the work. The envelope adds nothing to that.
- It does not let you sue. For a U.S. work you generally must register with the Copyright Office before you can bring a lawsuit for copying.
- It does not unlock set damages or attorney's fees. Those depend on registering in time.
- It is weak proof. An envelope can be mailed empty and sealed later.
What to do instead
Register the work. The government fee for one work made by one person is modest, and a registration is the official record a court looks for.
Source: the U.S. Copyright Office's Copyright in General (FAQ).
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This guide is general information, not legal advice. Copyright Man is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We prepare your filing; you file it yourself on the U.S. Copyright Office website. The Copyright Office, not Copyright Man, decides whether to register a work. Fees and rules are set by the U.S. Copyright Office and can change. Its website, copyright.gov, has the current ones.