Name change and copyright issues

[Maggie Kay]

I have a lot of designs which are represented as plots with my legal name appearing as copyright owner. If I change my legal name, what happens to the copyright ownership of these designs? If I write a book in my current legal name, and change it who wrote the book?

[Julie York]

The Copyright belongs to the person who created the book (unless you sign it away to someone else.) What you call yourself does not change the fact that you wrote it which is why people can use pen names and still own the copyright under their own name. If you change your name it doesn't change who owns the copyright, but it may be legally confusing if you wish to receive royalties or sell some rights in your work.

The main thing is that you can prove you are 'you' and have legally changed your name, and are therefore the original creator.

But then I am no legal expert, so I don't know for certain.

[Paula Thomas]

K - You are you.

Any works copyrighted by you before you changed your name are still yours (although you need to keep a copy of the legal paperwork to prove your former name).

See http://www.copyright.gov/forms/formtxi.pdf re registering the copyright for a literary work under a pseudonym (i.e., pen name).

[Maggie Kay]

Thank you both very much!