Pseudonym Hijacking

[captnemo]

Twice I've read through the U.S. Code regarding copyright and either I'm not understanding something or the following problem exists:

If someone registers a copyright under a pseudonym on a work such as a novel and they include their real name on the registration, then anyone can look up the registration and determine the name of the author, defeating the purpose of a pseudonym. If the registrant omits their real name from the registration, the author can go back at a later date and register their real name to the pseudonymous copyright. But this also means that anyone, not just the author, can hijack a pseudonymous copyright by registering their real name to it.

Am I reading the Code correctly or am I missing something?

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you put your name on a public record, yes, obviously your name will be on that public record.

Can we rule out the possibility that some third party will attempt to claim copyright to materials you register under a false name and address? No we cannot. If your work has that type of value and you want to register a copyright, how about creating a corporate entity that can own and register the material.

[captnemo]

If you put your name on a public record, yes, obviously your name will be on that public record.

Can we rule out the possibility that some third party will attempt to claim copyright to materials you register under a false name and address? No we cannot. If your work has that type of value and you want to register a copyright, how about creating a corporate entity that can own and register the material.

Yeah, a corp is probably the best solution. Thank you.

The form I looked at allows one to register with no name, so a false name and address is not required. Either way, it makes no difference in this case.

And thank you for confirming my reading of the code. I thought I had misunderstood something in the law.

[cyjeff]

I think it is highly ironic that you complain about someone hijacking your pseudonym while stealing someone else's work as your login name.

Granted, Jules Verne's work is outside copyright statute, but still....

[captnemo]

I think it is highly ironic that you complain about someone hijacking your pseudonym while stealing someone else's work as your login name.

Granted, Jules Verne's work is outside copyright statute, but still....

I find it interesting that you interpret my post as a complaint. You must work with some difficult people.

My post was a simple question, whether I had read the Code correctly or not. I did not express an opinion or judgment--just checking facts regarding the code. I should also point out that it would be rather stupid of me to complain about what appears to be an unsolvable problem.

And yes, "Captain Nemo" is long past its copyright days.