I'm copyrighting one of my works with the US Copyright office and I'm clueless in filling out the section of limit your claims. I deal with superheroes in this script. Now the superpowers are not mines, but the superheroes are. How the hell do you go by registering it.  

Any help will be appreciated.

Gabe
    

I don't think you can.  Copyrighting is for finished literary works, not descriptions of things.


Phil

I finished the script. I'm copyrighting a finished work. It just deals with people having superhuman abilities like moving fast or enhanced marksmanship.

My question deals with how to fill that section out for the script since I don't own those superhuman abilities?

I apologize in advance if my previous post was unclear.

Gabe

It's an idea that is copyrighted.   I think the idea of your hero's superpowers are automatically protected as a whole.  
No one can write a script about a man who can fly in the air, shoots laser rays with his eyes, stops the plane with his palm...and call it Amazing Man.  It's copying the Superman.  Same thing with Spiderman.  No one can write a guy who shoots spider webs to catch bad guys.
You are safe.

Ah. I think understand now.

Both to Phil and Coldbug. I apologize Phil for my previous post. I misunderstood you.  

I can use the superhuman abilities as long as they don't parallel a certain character like the examples coldbug gave.  

I can do something like shoots laser from arms and shoots web from crotch. lol. And name him, Whatever... Right? Cause aren't like these comic book characters based off these superhuman abilities?  

Gabe

you can make a hero who shoots spider webs from his eyes and ears... flies upside down..shoots laser rays from his palm...can call it "Whatever Man"  ;D

Thanks

I registered the script with WGA already. Easy.

US copyright. like solving a math problem. lol.

First of all, you can't copyright an idea.  You can't!

Depending on your characters, you might be getting in trouble with trademark violation, not copyright violation.  Superman is a trademarked character of DC Comics Inc.  Spiderman is a trademarked character for Marvel Comics.  All the published/produced stories that they were in are copyrighted.

Whether or not your characters are in violation really depends on specifically what they are and what they can do.  Most comic book heroes/villains are based on other comic books/books/mythology.  Having a character that is superstrong and can fly doesn't mean you're rewriting Superman.  Having a character that is superstrong, superfast, x-ray vision and was rocketed to Earth as a small baby is another matter entirely.


Phil

Ok. I officially hate copyrighting. But I believe I understand now.

I'm submitting the script up here so...let's see. lol.

Thanks Phil and Coldbug.

Gabe

Copyrighting gets easier the more you do it.


Phil

Well, I finished submitting it. Thanks Phil and Coldbug for the assistance.

Gabe