hopkins@burdvax.UUCP (03/23/84)
Having read through the self-serving nonsense (no names, if the shoe fits...) floating around on copyrights (NOT "copywrites," come on...), I feel the need to make two points. The word "copyright" says it all: the right to make copies. If you copyright something, you reserve the right to make copies of it. The law, as I understand it (and I'm not a lawyer), allows the copyright holder to prevent you from making any copies of copyrighted material except for "fair use" (however the courts interpret it) and copies expressly permitted by the copyright holder. Among the remedies available are criminal prosecution for theft, civil suits for actual and punitive damages, as well as cease-and- desist orders and the possibility of contempt citations if they are ignored. Only actual damages are related to the holder losing money. The rest are based ONLY on the violater's actions. To maintain a copyright, notice must be included in all copies of the protected work of the copyright and identity of the holder. Copying under "fair use" has generally been interpreted as limited, non-commercial copying which does not otherwise compromise the copyright holders rights. Clearly, posting the copyright-protected lyrics of a song (especially without the copyright notice!) is not protected. Wierd Al has a case (if he can figure out whom to sue). Finally, when I was transcribing pop music for a high-school combo (many years ago, the statue of limitations better have run out), I always put a "copied right" notice on it. Immodest, but I found it appealing. (Right now, is somebody madly typing in the newspaper article on Michael Jackson's alleged theft problem? I hope not, but know better.) Bill Hopkins (whose opinions are certainly no more than his own)