srp@ethz.UUCP (03/22/87)
[line eater fodder] Hello, I have a group of source programs that I would like to copyright. How does one normally go about this? What sort of details apply if I work for a University? Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks. -- ----------- Scott Presnell Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zentrum) Department of Organic Chemistry Universitaetsstrasse 16 CH-8092 Zurich Switzerland. uucp: ...seismo!mcvax!cernvax!ethz!srp (srp@ethz.uucp) earn/bitnet: Benner@CZHETH5A
samlb@well.UUCP (03/24/87)
In article <42@ethz.UUCP> srp@ethz.UUCP (Scott Presnell) writes: >How does one normally go about this? What sort of details apply if I work >for a University? Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks. To copyright _anything_, include the following string in the text: Copyright <year> <Your Name> All rights reserved. this establishes a copytight in the U.S. and all countries which have signed the International Copyright treaties, as well as the South American copyright treaties. Next, skip one line, and outline any permissions or restrictions that you want to impose on distribution in clear English || German || French || the language of your choice. That's it. As to working for a University, you'd have to check with the lawyers that work there about contractual restrictions -- there is no general body of law on that, as there is in copyright matters. -- Sam'l Bassett, Self-Employed Writer -- My words & ideas are my own! 34 Oakland Ave., San Anselmo CA 94960; (415) 454-7282 UUCP: {...known world...}!hplabs OR ptsfa OR lll-crg!well!samlb; Compuserve: 71735,1776; WU Easylink ESL 6284-3034; MCI SBassett
reid@decwrl.UUCP (03/25/87)
Please keep in mind that the person who posted the "How to Copyright" question lives in Switzerland. Copyright mechanisms vary from nation to nation, and not every country honors every other country's copyright laws. If the question is "How to Copyright in Switzerland", the answer is likely to be quite different from "How to Copyright in the USA".
madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (03/26/87)
In article <8788@decwrl.DEC.COM> reid@decwrl.UUCP (Brian Reid) writes: > >Please keep in mind that the person who posted the "How to Copyright" >question lives in Switzerland. Copyright mechanisms vary from nation to >nation, and not every country honors every other country's copyright laws. >If the question is "How to Copyright in Switzerland", the answer is likely to >be quite different from "How to Copyright in the USA". I missed the original article I guess, but how to copyright in the US is easy. First, it is perfectly legal to just put a notice on your stuff (programs and/of literature) that says either: Copyright <person> <date> or (c) <date> <person> Actually, the order of <date> and <person> probably doesn't matter, but either of the above is fine. While the law says that just putting the notice in an obvious place constitutes copyright, it's "more" legally binding to fill out a form and file it with the government. The form is form TX and is available from the Library of Congress. When I asked them for one, they sent me about five copies and LOTS of literature on the copyright laws and what they mean. It costs about $10 to filethe form. I guess the form is just used to "prove" that the program was made by you when you said it was. This would definitely help in court, so I suggest filing a form if you're worried about it. If you don't file the form, you can do so at a later date. This is useful because you can file for the copyright when and if you might need the documentation. I have no idea why this is the case, but that's what the documentation said. If you need more info on copyrights, call your local library and ask. You might also look up books on copyrighting, which is what I did. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Jim Frost * The Madd Hacker | UUCP: ..!harvard!bu-cs!bucsb!madd H H | ARPA: madd@bucsb.bu.edu H-C-C-OH <- heehee +---------+---------------------------------- H H | "We are strangers in a world we never made"
cdaf@iuvax.UUCP (03/26/87)
In article <865@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP> madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (Jim "Jack" Frost) writes: > >I missed the original article I guess, but how to copyright in the US >is easy. First, it is perfectly legal to just put a notice on your >stuff (programs and/of literature) that says either: > > Copyright <person> <date> >or > (c) <date> <person> > >Actually, the order of <date> and <person> probably doesn't matter, >but either of the above is fine. Actually, the second is NOT accepatable according to the information sent by the copyright office. They make a big deal about either spelling it out: "copyright" or placing the letter "C" with a FULL circle around it on the work to be copyrighted. the "c" in parenthases is explicitly stated as being unacceptable. You can, however use "Copyright (c) <name> date", as long as "copyright is spelled out. -charles -- |Snail : Box 1662 Bloomington In. 47402 ************************************* |ATT : (812) 339-7354 ** Kayakers, C1/C2'ers, Canoeists: ** |ARPA : cdaf@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu ** Looking for people to join ** |BITNET: BCHC901@INDYCMS ** the WhiteWater mailing list. ** |UUCP : {inuxc,pur-ee,pyramid,ihnp4}!iuvax!cdaf *****************************
samlb@well.UUCP (03/26/87)
The point of international copyright conventions and the treaties
which establish them is to make the process the _same_ in all countries.
As a writer, I've been through this one . . .
--
Sam'l Bassett, Self-Employed Writer -- My words & ideas are my own!
34 Oakland Ave., San Anselmo CA 94960; (415) 454-7282
UUCP: {...known world...}!hplabs OR ptsfa OR lll-crg!well!samlb;
Compuserve: 71735,1776; WU Easylink ESL 6284-3034; MCI SBassettmason@gargoyle.UUCP (03/27/87)
In article <865@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP> madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (Jim "Jack" Frost) writes: >In article <8788@decwrl.DEC.COM> reid@decwrl.UUCP (Brian Reid) writes: >> >>Please keep in mind that the person who posted the "How to Copyright" >>question lives in Switzerland. Copyright mechanisms vary from nation to >>nation, and not every country honors every other country's copyright laws. >>If the question is "How to Copyright in Switzerland", the answer is likely to >>be quite different from "How to Copyright in the USA". > >I missed the original article I guess, but how to copyright in the US >is easy. First, it is perfectly legal to just put a notice on your >stuff (programs and/of literature) that says either: > > Copyright <person> <date> >or > (c) <date> <person> > >Actually, the order of <date> and <person> probably doesn't matter, >but either of the above is fine. > >While the law says that just putting the notice in an obvious place >constitutes copyright, it's "more" legally binding to fill out a >form and file it with the government. The form is form TX and is >available from the Library of Congress. When I asked them for one, >they sent me about five copies and LOTS of literature on the copyright >laws and what they mean. It costs about $10 to filethe form. I guess >the form is just used to "prove" that the program was made by you when >you said it was. This would definitely help in court, so I suggest >filing a form if you're worried about it. > Note: 1. There was, last time I heard, question as to whether or not (C) was a legitimate copyright symbol. The stuff I read said "don't use it." 2. You also want the line "All Rights Reserved" on there for some South American countries (Pan-American Copyright stuff, I think...) where otherwise they can do strange things with it. 3. Form TX is the correct form. You must file the first and last 50 pages of source code, and the fee is $10. The difference between filed and unfiled copyrights are in collectable damages. If it is registered, damages are trebled (just like anti-trust) while if it isn't, they aren't. You can file any time, but violations prior to filing are not treble damage, while violations after are. An interesting side-effect of the first/last 50 page rule is that you can file a 20,000 page program, get copyright protection and yet still maintain trade secret stuff (the other 19,900 pages). Although some of this stuff changes (mostly in court precedents) the basic framework is in the 1976 and 1980 copyright acts. To the best of my knowledge the above is correct. I am not an attorney and if you REALLY have something valuable, I suggest you contact one. The few hundred dollars it will cost will give you an education in copyright law. Also, there are a few good books. Check your local computer bookstore. Tony Mason Univ. of Chicago, Dept. of C.S. mason@anubis.uchicago.edu
kjm@dg_rtp.UUCP (03/27/87)
In article <865@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP> madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (Jim "Jack" Frost) writes: >I missed the original article I guess, but how to copyright in the US >is easy. First, it is perfectly legal to just put a notice on your >stuff (programs and/of literature) that says either: > > Copyright <person> <date> >or > (c) <date> <person> > >Actually, the order of <date> and <person> probably doesn't matter, >but either of the above is fine. It is not sufficient to use the (c) marker; this is not not NOT equivalent to the c-in-a-circle symbol (or so I've been told; it seems that a recent copyright case decided that something was not adequately protected by the (c) marker). To be safe, use the entire word "copyright", along with the name of the copyright holder and the year the work was copyrighted. According to the 1978 law, a work is copyrighted the instant it is created, but use of the "copyright" marker and filing with the Library of Congress give the owner greater and greater protection in the eyes of the courts. It's a good idea to file with the LoC if you plan to publish anything professionally; the "copyright" approach is best for rough drafts, in-house notes, etc.) -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin J. Maroney ...!mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!kjm DISCLAIMER: Data General will disavow all knowledge of my existence. CARTHAGO DELENDA EST
gemini@homxb.UUCP (03/28/87)
Write to the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Wash., DC 20559. Ask for Circular R61. To quote: "The Notice for visually perceptible copies should contain all of the following three elements: 1. The symbol (the letter C in a circle), or the word "Copyright", or the abbreviation "Copr." 2. The year of first publication of the work. 3. The name of the owner of the copyright in the work, or an abbreviation by which the name can be recognized, or a generally known alternative designation of the owner." Rick Richardson, PC Research, Inc: (201) 922-1134 ..!ihnp4!castor!pcrat!rick when at AT&T-CPL: (201) 834-1378 ..!ihnp4!castor!pollux!rer
glee@cognos.UUCP (Godfrey Lee) (03/29/87)
Just a warning: (c) <year> <person> is not legal copyright. It has to be a real circle with a 'c' in the middle of it. It is best to use 'Copyright'. There is also a short form for 'Copyright', something like 'Copyr', but I don't remember. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Godfrey Lee, Cognos Incorporated, 3755 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA K1G 3N3 (613) 738-1440 decvax!utzoo!dciem!nrcaer!cognos!glee
Isaac_K_Rabinovitch@cup.portal.com.UUCP (03/30/87)
Everyone in this discussion has been contradicting everyone else. I'm gonna send away for the government brochure and ignore any further USENET postings on this subject. Perhaps we could move the whole thing to the recreation area and start an "urban legends" discussion.
madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (03/31/87)
In article <620@gargoyle.UChicago.EDU> mason@gargoyle.uchicago.edu.UUCP (Tony Mason) writes: >In article <865@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP> madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (Jim "Jack" Frost) writes: >>In article <8788@decwrl.DEC.COM> reid@decwrl.UUCP (Brian Reid) writes: >>> >>>Please keep in mind that the person who posted the "How to Copyright" >>>question lives in Switzerland. Copyright mechanisms vary from nation to >>>nation, and not every country honors every other country's copyright laws. >>>If the question is "How to Copyright in Switzerland", the answer is likely to >>>be quite different from "How to Copyright in the USA". >> >>I missed the original article I guess, but how to copyright in the US >>is easy. First, it is perfectly legal to just put a notice on your >>stuff (programs and/of literature) that says either: >> >> Copyright <person> <date> >>or >> (c) <date> <person> >> >>Actually, the order of <date> and <person> probably doesn't matter, >>but either of the above is fine. >> >>While the law says that just putting the notice in an obvious place >>constitutes copyright, it's "more" legally binding to fill out a >>form and file it with the government. The form is form TX and is >>available from the Library of Congress. When I asked them for one, >>they sent me about five copies and LOTS of literature on the copyright >>laws and what they mean. It costs about $10 to filethe form. I guess >>the form is just used to "prove" that the program was made by you when >>you said it was. This would definitely help in court, so I suggest >>filing a form if you're worried about it. >> >Note: > >1. There was, last time I heard, question as to whether or not (C) was a >legitimate copyright symbol. The stuff I read said "don't use it." OK, I posted the article everyone is flaming. I wish that I could get hold of my copyright info to back up my claim, but it's 150 miles from here, so tough. Since I can't readily back up my claim, I suggest that you use the full word "copyright", which is definitely correct. I would like to mention that I recall the documents saying that since there was no way to represent the C with a circle that they (meaning the courts) were accepting (C) because it was as close as you could reasonably come to C-with-a-circle on computers. (I seem to recall that this was real recent -- maybe as recent as 1986) >2. You also want the line "All Rights Reserved" on there for some South >American countries (Pan-American Copyright stuff, I think...) where otherwise >they can do strange things with it. This is definitely correct. ALWAYS include this phrase. I had forgotten to mention it, but it is true that for your program to be considered "copyrighted" in many other countries, you must include this. >3. Form TX is the correct form. You must file the first and last 50 pages of >source code, and the fee is $10. The difference between filed and unfiled >copyrights are in collectable damages. If it is registered, damages are >trebled (just like anti-trust) while if it isn't, they aren't. You can file >any time, but violations prior to filing are not treble damage, while >violations after are. Well, the documentation they sent me didn't say this and I am glad someone mentioned it. I'd definitely file if I were looking to prosecute people who are violating my copyright. >An interesting side-effect of the first/last 50 page rule is that you can >file a 20,000 page program, get copyright protection and yet still maintain >trade secret stuff (the other 19,900 pages). > >Although some of this stuff changes (mostly in court precedents) the basic >framework is in the 1976 and 1980 copyright acts. Check for more recent changes. Cheap software has made it necessary to make major revisions and I think there have been changes. I'm sorry if my previous posting put anyone on the wrong track. You should ALWAYS talk to a good lawyer if you have a serious copyright question: don't trust ANYONE else. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Jim Frost * The Madd Hacker | UUCP: ..!harvard!bu-cs!bucsb!madd H H | ARPA: madd@bucsb.bu.edu H-C-C-OH <- heehee +---------+---------------------------------- H H | "We are strangers in a world we never made"
kurt@hi.UUCP (03/31/87)
In article <887@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP> madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (Jim "Jack" Frost) writes: [ Much context deleted ] >I'm sorry if my previous posting put anyone on the wrong track. You >should ALWAYS talk to a good lawyer if you have a serious copyright >question: don't trust ANYONE else. [ Signature deleted, too ] Don't trust even a good lawyer, they can be wrong, too. You might loose your "copyright" because of a lawyer's mistake. But at least you might be able to sue the lawyer.... -- Kurt Zeilenga Internet: zeilenga@hc.dspo.gov (505) 277-1611 UUCP: hc!zeilenga