can I copyright a title?

Today’s publishing legal post looks at a question I hear a lot: “Can I copyright my title?” (Short answer: no.) Copyright law doesn’t protect short phrases, slogans, names, or titles … even the unique or distinctive ones. Names, slogans and phrases are protected by trademark law – but titles don’t usually qualify for this protection (though series titles may). Copyright law doesn’t protect titles because a title is too short to be considered a “work of authorship.” Works protected by copyright require a certain amount of original authorship, which generally means more than just a few words. In some cases, titles may be protected under laws