Can I copyright source code under a username?

Question

I'd like to publish and copyright some source code.

However, I'm a minor living in the United States, and, as such, do not feel comfortable including my full name with my source code at this time.

Is it possible to maintain copyright over source code without giving out my identity to anyone who wants it? Can I do something like, say, "Copyright (c) 2010 Matchu", and specify that "Matchu" is the owner of, say, my GitHub account? Or am I stuck?

Answer 1

You as the author always hold the copyright. This can either be you individually, or as a corporate entity.

If your "username" is a legal entity, then you're in the clear. But bear in mind that in the case of copyright infringement, you must prove in court that you are the original author.

I wouldn't sweat being a minor. Place the copyright notice under your name.

Answer 2

Asking a bunch of programmers for legal advice is like asking World of Warcraft players for sex advice.

Answer 3

IANAL, but as I understand it the US Congress modified US copyright law back in the 1970's making copyrights automatic for all creative works, whether the author applied for the copyright or not.

So the main thing you need to be worried about is proving that you were the creator of the works and the date that they were created.

Answer 4

I think I read somewhere that in the US your work is copyrighted whether you have a notice or not

Answer 5

You can; copyright works the same for programs as for novels, and many writers have used pseudonyms. However, a pseudonym makes it harder to prove you are the author.

(Re copyright notices, my (edit: incorrect) understanding is that you need to put one in the US, which is unlike what most Berne convention signatories require. Implicit copyright would also however be weakened by a recently proposed “orphaned works” law that makes it easier to challenge copyright of an unregistered work)