I need some brilliant DU input on the subject of copyrights

scottcsmith

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Wed Mar-10-04 06:02 PM
Original message

I need some brilliant DU input on the subject of copyrights

I do a lot of original writing at my web site. I've been wondering about the issue of copyrights. For those of you who also do original writing at your own web site, do you get the domain itself copyrighted, or do you have to have each article copyrighted? Any help would be appreciated, and if this needs to go offline for discussion please feel free to PM me.

Thanks!

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Atman

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Wed Mar-10-04 06:10 PM
Response to Original message

1. You wrote it, you own it

Even on this board, technically, if you can prove your writing is yours, you own the copyright. If you are concerned about needing extra protection, for something you feel is particularly likely to be stolen, you can send money to the govt. with some paperwork, but it is unnecessary. This goes for any creative work...you create it, you own it.

You SHOULD put the circle-c � and the date with your name on any work you are sending out. For your site, a notice saying "Everything here is copyright 2004 by Me, except where otherwise noted" covers it.

For comprehensive copyright issues, go to Findlaw.com

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scottcsmith

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Wed Mar-10-04 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #1

5. I do have a copyright disclaimer on my site

But hey, if that's all I need, that's one thing to scratch off my to-do list. Thanks.

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amazona

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Wed Mar-10-04 06:11 PM
Response to Original message

2. copyright is created when you create the work

You own the copyright to anything you write from the moment you write it. You have to do something to lose your copyright, such as sign a "work for hire" agreement. That said, there are plenty of people who labor under the misapprehension that anything posted on a website is free for the taking. I make it clear that I retain the rights by putting, � (year of first publication) by (name of copyright holder, which is usually myself but sometimes I have a guest writer or photographer), all rights reserved on each page of my site and also underneath each photograph.

So it would look something like this:

� 2004 by Jane Doe, all rights reserved

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boobooday

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Wed Mar-10-04 06:13 PM
Response to Original message

3. The nice thing about computers

What everyone has said already is true -- you own your copyright already. The cool thing about posting on the web is that you also have a date stamp, proving you are the creator.

Jeanette

http://www.wgoeshome.com

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Feanorcurufinwe

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Wed Mar-10-04 06:17 PM
Response to Original message

4. What has been said so far is true except you can give up your copy rights

Edited on Wed Mar-10-04 06:21 PM by Feanorcurufinwe

for instance as an employee, you don't own the copyright on what you produce on the job. Or on a message board, if you agree to a user agreement that says the website owns what you post and holds the copyright to what you post, then you don't own the copyright.

You can also sell, give away, or give up the copyright on your work.

on edit: I'm sorry, I misread your post at first. Yes, you do own the copyright on everything you write on your website, however, enforcement is problematic. Especially for digital-only content, datestamps, etc. can be easily forged, etc.

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