Post by NZBC on Jan 2, 2010 20:09:53 GMT 12
Demystifying Copyrights
Copyrights may be the single most misunderstood topic on the planet, and unfortunately, genealogists are prone to asserting copyrights improperly.
Many assume copyrights are all about writing. They are applied to writing, but are more specifically about rights – e.g., the right of an author establishes copying guidelines for intellectual property.
We see copyrights applied to music, photography and elsewhere – but often, they are misapplied. You may be surprised to learn which items can’t be copyrighted:
1. dates
2. facts
3. slogans
4. short phrases
5. conversations
6. modifications of another’s work
7. domain names
8. public domain items
9. antique treasures, such as old books and diaries
I learned this and more from the United States Copyright Office, which states “Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.”
the FAQs (frequently asked questions), some which are excerpted:
ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/review/2009/1014.html
Copyrights may be the single most misunderstood topic on the planet, and unfortunately, genealogists are prone to asserting copyrights improperly.
Many assume copyrights are all about writing. They are applied to writing, but are more specifically about rights – e.g., the right of an author establishes copying guidelines for intellectual property.
We see copyrights applied to music, photography and elsewhere – but often, they are misapplied. You may be surprised to learn which items can’t be copyrighted:
1. dates
2. facts
3. slogans
4. short phrases
5. conversations
6. modifications of another’s work
7. domain names
8. public domain items
9. antique treasures, such as old books and diaries
I learned this and more from the United States Copyright Office, which states “Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.”
the FAQs (frequently asked questions), some which are excerpted:
ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/review/2009/1014.html