Patamu and the protection of copyright

Today we want to talk to you about Patamu, or how a self-publisher can protect their copyright, especially when it comes to eBooks. Even in the field of self-publishing, in fact, copyright is important to protect one’s work and to assert one’s rights in the event of a dispute.

Copyright protection for eBooks

But how does it work for eBooks? As specified in this useful article from the blog VivereDiScrittura, the protection of the work is guaranteed by law and therefore, in itself, it would not be necessary to protect it in any other way. However, if it is necessary to prove the authorship of one’s own work, it is useful to provide proof, which can be exhibited in a legal proceeding. There are several ways to obtain proof of authorship. In our case, we will only focus on eBooks and the method we used as a series, which is to use the services of Patamu.

Patamu and SIAE

Let’s start with a premise. In Italy, SIAE is the largest and most structured organization when it comes to protecting copyright. It has its own section dedicated to literary works, with specific rates depending on whether one wants to join as a member or give a mandate to the society (membership is free for those under 30). However, we preferred to opt for a similar service called Patamu. It is a project that “generates proof of authorship for any intellectual or creative work, thus allowing to protect one’s creativity and safely publish or share one’s works or creations. Protection is immediate and is achieved through the legal recognition of timestamping, a computer process.”

In simple terms, a subscriber to the service can protect all of their works, which will receive a legally recognized digital marking guaranteed by the European Union. The proof of authorship generated is valid in all 172 countries that adhere to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. Moreover, it is a 100% Italian project that allows the author to maintain control over the rights of the deposited works, without any obligation or constraint towards Patamu, and can therefore freely decide how to use, share, or publish their works. La Novella Orchidea, given the large number of publications and translations of its works, joined Patamu as early as October 2016.

How to join Patamu

Let’s now talk about how to join Patamu. Patamu offers the possibility to protect a single work (one-time payment) or to have a free account with various limitations (number of deposits, types of license, storage space). However, to have access to all the features of the project, you can choose between two types of accounts: Advanced and Professional.

Advanced accounts cost €36.6 per year and allow for the deposit of 10 works per month, with 30 monthly marking proof downloads. The uploadable files can reach up to 100 MB.

Professional accounts cost €73.2 per year and allow for unlimited deposits and marking proofs, and up to 500 MB per file. It is also possible to upload ZIP files of works with passwords.

Both accounts do not have automatic renewal at the end of the 12 months, so the user is free to upgrade or downgrade depending on their needs. It should also be noted that well before the expiration of the subscription, Patamu sends emails with various promotions, which often significantly lower the cost of the account.

Depositing works on the platform is very intuitive. Depending on the type, you will need to enter all the information about the work, the author, choose the type of license, and finally upload the file itself. The system will generate a specific marking, which can be downloaded or even shared on social media.

The blockchain marking

For both of these accounts, Patamu recently added blockchain marking (the same one used for Bitcoin). This type of marking is added to the traditional deposit with an institutional certifier. The latter guarantees validity for at least 20 years. The blockchain marking, on the other hand, being distributed on a global network of computers, has unlimited duration, even if it is not 100% legally recognized.

This double system seems to us to be an important addition to the security and protection of works. Moreover, it also shows Patamu’s attention to new systems of information (and money) exchange that are becoming increasingly popular internationally.

In conclusion, the SIAE remains a reference point, but projects like Patamu are a more than valid alternative (and often more economical) for protecting one’s works. Especially in the case of eBooks and self-publishing.