Government not protecting personal information

[disneysteve]

This isn't really a financial post but wasn't sure where to put it.

As some of you may recall, my daughter published her first novel recently. Part of that process involved registering for a copyright. She just checked the copyright catalog and her application is complete and her book is officially registered.

The problem is that part of the official listing includes all of her personal information: Name, which is fine, but then home address, telephone number, and e-mail address.

Is it really necessary or appropriate to put all of that on an open site? I guess it isn't much different than somebody looking you up in the phone book except for also having the e-mail address but it just seems wrong somehow.

[feh]

I'm assuming they need contact info as part of the copyright. Email is just another way to contact an individual (in addition to physical address & phone number).

At any rate, if you have questions, I suggest asking the folks that the application was sent to.

[disneysteve]

I'm assuming they need contact info as part of the copyright. Email is just another way to contact an individual (in addition to physical address & phone number).

I certainly understand them needing that info on the application. I just don't see why they need to share it all on the public site that anyone and everyone can access.

The security to set up her copyright account was ridiculous, like a super long password and a bunch of other rules but now just anyone can look up her name or book title and see all of this. I guess famous authors probably use a professional address or their agent's address or something but anyone else ends up with their personal data out there for all to see.

[feh]

I certainly understand them needing that info on the application. I just don't see why they need to share it all on the public site that anyone and everyone can access.

A copyright is a public record. The holder of the copyright will likely need to be contacted by anybody that wants to reference it.

At least, that's my take on it. I'm not a lawyer, and I don't play one on tv.

[ua_guy]

Was it possible to use a PO Box as the address that's displayed on the contact info?

[disneysteve]

A copyright is a public record. The holder of the copyright will likely need to be contacted by anybody that wants to reference it.

That makes sense. I hadn't thought of that.