�They�re going to steal my story!�

This is one of the fears of many new writers. They can’t send out their short story or manuscript for a novel because they are positive the publisher or agent is going to steal their writing and claim it as their own. For unpublished work, this is nearly 100% NOT going to happen. Let me explain why.

Botswana is one of the 172 states that are signatories of the Berne Convention of 1886 (adapted a few times since). The Berne Convention says that as soon as you “fix” your writing, your right to ownership is established. You have ownership of that work for your lifetime plus 50 years. What this means is as soon as you write your story down on a piece of paper or type it into your computer, you own it.

You are the only person who can copy that piece of writing and the only person who can allow others to copy it. With that copyright you have economic rights (the right to earn money from your work) and moral rights (the right to have the work identified as yours and the right to object to any manipulation of the work).  These rights are not just within the borders of Botswana but in every state which has signed the Berne Convention which is nearly every one on earth.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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