Surely by now y’all have heard of it. If you haven’t, here’s the short version.
Mail a copy of your manuscript to yourself and then don’t open it. Put it aside in a safe place, then if/when there’s a dispute, you can present it to the judge as evidence of when you wrote the manuscript.
It doesn’t work.
Why? Imagine, if you will, mailing an empty unsealed envelope to yourself. Then imagine putting your manuscript, or, worse still, someone else’s bestselling manuscript in it five or ten years later, then sue the bestselling author for everything s/he has. Yeah, that’d work. </sarcasm>
How difficult is it to mail unsealed envelopes? Judging by the number of bills and bank statements I received unsealed, not at all. And that’s where it falls apart.
For more information, check out these links.
Snopes (I love this site. 
)
Although in Britain, it apparently may be somewhat useful. Don’t count on it, though.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Quidscribs,
Just a quick note to say hello. I found you through AW a while back and know I visited once or twice but I don’t remember whether or not I actually commented or just MEANT to. Anyways, I found this post quite helpful and wanted to make sure to say thanks for the information.
Have a great day,
Briliantdonkey
INKcogKNEEdough, I don’t remember if you commented before or not, and I’m too lazy to go through the comments. :p
You’re welcome, and I’m glad you found it useful.