Re: [TCP] copyright -- implicit or no?
Sean Brierley asks: If I create art -- vector, photo, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? If I author text content -- user manual, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? Hi Sean, The answer to both those questions is it all depends. If you create original art or text as part of a contract, then the rights to that work depends on what is defined in the contract. In most cases, it would belong to the company you signed the contract with. If you create original art or text on your own, the it is implicitly protected; however, you can gain additional protection by registering your work with the federal government. A good place to start is the U.S. Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/) . Of course, I can only talk about U.S. law. Other countries have different laws which may or may not conflict with U.S. law. Enforcing a copyright is another matter altogether. Al Geist Technical Writing, Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design and Award Winning Videos Voice/Msg: 802-658-3140 Cell: 802-578-3964 E-mail: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] URL: http://www.geistassociates.com (Online portfolio and resume) See also: URL: http://www.geistimages.com (Fine art photographic prints for home or office and beautiful note cards for all occasions.)ros.com __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] copyright -- implicit or no?
Note, however, that this formal copyright registration is generally not geared towards user documentation (rather music, lyrics, novels, and so on). If you explicitly state copyright ownership in the documents being published (be they online or print), then the documents are protected. If the copyright is ever challenged, you may need to prove first publication date, but that's rare (the challenge). ...sue On 4/26/07, Milan Davidovic [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Sean: In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. However, registration is not a condition of copyright protection. Even though registration is not a requirement for protection, the copyright law provides several inducements or advantages to encourage copyright owners to make registration. http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#cr More on this page as to what can and can't be protected, and a bunch of other stuffs... -- Milan Davidovic http://altmilan.blogspot.com http://www.terminus1525.ca/studio/view/2758 On 4/26/07, Brierley, Sean [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi If I create art -- vector, photo, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? If I author text content -- user manual, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] copyright -- implicit or no?
It is more easily defended if you have an external copyright or agency registration (like WGA), should you have to litigate. --- Brierley, Sean [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: If I author text content -- user manual, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? User Interface design blog http://user-advocacy.blogspot.com/ Code::Design::UI::Consulting http://www.dionysius.com/ __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] copyright -- implicit or no?
As I understand it, if your work is being done as 'work for hire' which is what most work that is in the technical communication sphere is, then copyright is held by the company or organization or whoever is paying for the work. However, the individual creator does hold a kind of implicit copyright on stuff that he or she creates until paid for it. This can be important in a contractor relationship - ask Geoff Hart. He knows something about this. All creative work is covered by some kind of copyright and this copyright is held by the creator of the particular item of work. Whether or not you add the little c-circle symbol and name/year. But that little symbol does make the legal protection stronger. There is this place called 'Copyright Clearance Center' but as I understand it, they collect fees for using materials that are used in an academic setting. Jim Jones http://tinyurl.com/4arjc -Original Message- In general, copyright registration is a legal formality intended to make a public record of the basic facts of a particular copyright. However, registration is not a condition of copyright protection. Even though registration is not a requirement for protection, the copyright law provides several inducements or advantages to encourage copyright owners to make registration. http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#cr More on this page as to what can and can't be protected, and a bunch of other stuffs...Milan Davidovic On 4/26/07, Brierley, Sean [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi If I create art -- vector, photo, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? If I author text content -- user manual, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] copyright -- implicit or no?
IANAL, but my understanding is that an implicit copyright protects all published works. What I wrote was more intended to reinforce a reality of the marketplace: it's easier to defend if you copyright externally and have an explicit copyright statement on the work. --- Brierley, Sean [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thus, if I create illustrations or content for IBM, can Apple use those illustrations or content without permission IF there is no copyright statement on the art or content? Or, is the work protected? User Interface design blog http://user-advocacy.blogspot.com/ Code::Design::UI::Consulting http://www.dionysius.com/ __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] copyright -- implicit or no?
The work is protected. However, if the work is unpublished you'd want some means of documenting who created it and when. Something you create for IBM is probably going to be used in something that bears a publication date or other ID and probably doesn't need individual marking.. A stand-alone work you make for yourself might benefit from a marking. Gene Kim-Eng - Original Message - From: Brierley, Sean [EMAIL PROTECTED] Good followups. My question was not really about work done for hire under contract. That is, whether I create the content or the art for myself, or I create it for an employer as an employee or under contract, does there have to be an explicit copyright statement to protect the work, or is the work protected without the statement. Thus, if I create illustrations or content for IBM, can Apple use those illustrations or content without permission IF there is no copyright statement on the art or content? Or, is the work protected? Similarly, if I create illustrations or content for myself, can Apple use those illustrations or content without permission IF there is no copyright statement on the art or content? Or, is the work protected? __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
