So you've drafted the next Great American Novel, or penned a passionate poem to your intended or composed the new "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida," now what do you do? Play it safe and register the copyright to your work.

Back in 1790, President George Washington and Congress enacted the first federal copyright law. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." At that time, "writings and discoveries" meant mostly maps, charts and books, and "limited times" meant an initial period of 14 years with the possibility of a 14-year extension. Since then, both what can be copyrighted and for how long has changed many times.

Noah Webster, known for writing the first American dictionaries, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language and An American Dictionary of the English Language, actively lobbied for the original copyright law as well as the Copyright Act of 1831, which extended the initial copyright period. Unfortunately for Webster, his dictionary was not a financial success during his lifetime. After Webster's death in 1843, the rights to his dictionary were sold to George and Charles Merriam, whose company is now known as Merriam-Webster Inc.

Today, there are more than 29,700,000 copyrighted works registered through the Copyright Office, a service unit of the Library of Congress.