NationStates Jolt Archive

Since I keep seeing mass violations of copyright laws on these forums I thought I'd post this valuable information from this site: http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

1. "If it doesn't have a copyright notice, it's not copyrighted."
Everything is copyrights whether the author says it is or not. You still need permission unless your use falls under fair use.

2. "If I don't charge for it, it's not a violation."
Even if you are not making money off of using the material you are still guilty of copyright violation if you don't have permission.

3. "If it's posted to Usenet it's in the public domain."
False. False. False. Even stuff you post to the forum is automatically copyrighted by you.
As the site says "Nothing modern and creative is in the public domain anymore unless the owner explicitly puts it in the public domain"


4. "My posting was just fair use!"
Fair use only applies to things like commentary, parody, news reporting, research and education, it does not apply to things like roleplay forums.
Also pictures cannot be used in commentary forums to emphasize a point unless you are commenting on the picture itself.
Also you can't use the work in a way the degrades its value or that denigrates the author subjecting him or her to shame or humiliation.
However, only the courts have the right to decide if your right to comment overrides the creator's copyright.

5. If you don't defend your copyright you lose it." -- "Somebody has that name copyrighted!"
Names can't be copyrights but they can be trademarked. But only as they applies to a very specific area. Delta Airlines owns the rights to Delta but only when it applies to air line travel. Big Jim owns the words Big Jim when they apply to his forum, Big Jim Forums.

It is impossible to lose your copyright these days because of laws passed by Congress and included in international treaties. The only way to give away a copyright is if you give express consent or explicitly place it in the public domain.

Unlike copyrights, trademarks can be lost or weakened.

6. "If I make up my own stories, but base them on another work, my new work belongs to me."
This is a big one because it applies to all rp forums on this site and others. You cannot use scenes or characters from other people's work unless they have given you written permission. This applies to pictures too.
As the site states, "U.S. Copyright law is quite explicit that the making of what are called "derivative works" -- works based or derived from another copyrighted work -- is the exclusive province of the owner of the original work. This is true even though the making of these new works is a highly creative process. If you write a story using settings or characters from somebody else's work, you need that author's permission.
Yes, that means almost all "fan fiction" is arguably a copyright violation. If you want to publish a story about Jim Kirk and Mr. Spock, you need Paramount's permission, plain and simple."

Some but not all authors allow fan fiction as a way to promote their works. But don't assume so. Also, as in the previous bullet, even though they haven't sued you yet, it does not mean they give the right to do so at some future point.

7. "They can't get me, defendants in court have powerful rights!"
You only have rights in criminal court. You have very little rights in civil court. A girl can say you stole her image and present very little evidence or hearsay you can be forced to fork over your entire year's wages.

8. "Oh, so copyright violation isn't a crime or anything?"
In the US, copyright violation is a felon and can put you on a national registry if you are caught.
"in the USA commercial copyright violation involving more than 10 copies and value over $2500 was made a felony."
That means you are not allowed to make copies for every person in your class. You can only make ten and people have to share.

9. "It doesn't hurt anybody -- in fact it's free advertising."
Only the owner of the copyright has the right to decide if they want the free advertising. And only they have the right to decide what constitutes free advertising.

10. "They e-mailed me a copy, so I can post it."
Emails are copyrighted the minute you hit the send button.
However, if someone copy's your email, you probably won't get them thrown in jail or get much money from them.
Also, just because something is posted on a forum, does not give you the right to put to email it to your buddies. Likewise, if you post something that was emailed to you to a forum, like NSG, you are guilty of copyright violation.

11. "So I can't ever reproduce anything?"
See the site referenced above.
"The author's right to control what is done with a work, however, has some validity, even if it has no commercial value. If you feel you need to violate a copyright "because you can get away with it because the work has no value" you should ask yourself why you're doing it. In general, respecting the rights of creators to control their creations is a principle many advocate adhering to."

For more information, refer the site.

This is a public service announcement so people on these forums can stop violating copyrights.

That doesn't appear to be ten copyright myths.

Also,

#12: "The average person gives a fuck about copyrights."
Nope.

That doesn't appear to be ten copyright myths.

Also,

#12: "The average person gives a fuck about copyrights."
Nope.

#13 "The average copyright holder gives a fuck about copyright violations"
Unless they're losing money or they're the RIAA, probably not.

#13 "The average copyright holder gives a fuck about copyright violations"
Unless they're losing money or they're the RIAA, probably not.
#14. "The average person who has an official copyright even owns the rights to it."
Nope.

And you forgot "and unless they are 30 year old rock groups."

You sound like this idiot over at the Urban Dead wiki. Akule

Running around trying to delete everything in the name of copyright infringment.

#16: The law pays a ton of attention to copyright violations and have special billion dollar taskforces to huntdown copyright violators.
False.


And you forgot "and unless they are 30 year old rock groups."
Or scientlogists.

#14. "The average person who has an official copyright even owns the rights to it."
Nope.

And you forgot "and unless they are 30 year old rock groups."
Ah yes. Though I guess they could be included in the RIAA
You sound like this idiot over at the Urban Dead wiki. Akule

Running around trying to delete everything in the name of copyright infringment.

Urban Dead's still going, eh?

3. "If it's posted to Usenet it's in the public domain."
False. False. False. Even stuff you post to the forum is automatically copyrighted by you.
As the site says "Nothing modern and creative is in the public domain anymore unless the owner explicitly puts it in the public domain"


This one is false. In order for something to be copyrighted, a person has to file for a copyright. It is not automatically conferred, and until I file a copyright on my work, it is in a legal gray area.

Ah yes. Though I guess they could be included in the RIAA
No, they actually own their own shit, they are just angry-old band men trying to keep themselves in the mainstream despite the replacement and aging of band-members decreasing the popularity and skill of their music.

This one is false. In order for something to be copyrighted, a person has to file for a copyright. It is not automatically conferred, and until I file a copyright on my work, it is in a legal gray area.
That's actually wrong. Any work of art or science attributable solely to you is copyrighted by you. Without an official copyright however, it is much easier for some one else to steal it. (See, Todd Goldman)

Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Only the author or those deriving their rights through the author can rightfully claim copyright.

Ah yes. Though I guess they could be included in the RIAA


Urban Dead's still going, eh?
Not very well, it's becoming quite unbalanced again. For a while it was around 46% 54% zombies (With half the malls taken) but now it's around
68% humans 32% Zombies, (and no malls even being attacked) it's kind of dull.

They did add clothing and new weapons however.

Are those US copyright laws?

Considering no one gives two shits about any other copyright laws...

Are those US copyright laws?

And you forgot "and unless they are 30 year old rock groups."

Not 30 year olds!!:rolleyes:

This one is false. In order for something to be copyrighted, a person has to file for a copyright. It is not automatically conferred, and until I file a copyright on my work, it is in a legal gray area.

THe US Congress changed that and you are no longer required to file for a copyright. You only need to publish your work in order to have a copyright to it. By posting to a forum or sending an email or printing a letter or work, you are engaged in an act of publication.

Not very well, it's becoming quite unbalanced again. For a while it was around 46% 54% zombies (With half the malls taken) but now it's around
68% humans 32% Zombies, (and no malls even being attacked) it's kind of dull.

They did add clothing and new weapons however.
I should go back, see if I can't go on some solo raids. If memory serves I might have a corpse waiting to stand up in one of the forts.
Considering no one gives two shits about any other copyright laws...

It's not like they give much of a shit about the american ones either.

Are those US copyright laws?

Yes. These laws only apply in the US.
Copyright law varies from nation to nation but other countries have mcuh stricter copyright laws than the US does.
You should contact the agency in charge of copyrights in your nation for more information.

I'm just not too worried for some reason

#16: The law pays a ton of attention to copyright violations and have special billion dollar taskforces to huntdown copyright violators.
False.


#17. The publication of this list will change how copyright laws are respected.

False. Nothing short of Nazis riding dinosaurs would work.

Considering no one gives two shits about any other copyright laws...

No?

For the person who mentioned the RIAA.

It turns out these rules came about because the RIAA and the Motion Picture Association of America did some heavy handed lobbying of Congress.

Yes. These laws only apply in the US.
Copyright law varies from nation to nation but other countries have mcuh stricter copyright laws than the US does.
You should contact the agency in charge of copyrights in your nation for more information.

Well, I imagine it would be useful to have British copyright laws confirmed here, seeing as they would (from what I can tell) be relevant to everyone, not just people in the US.

But, you know, that's just me.

Well, I imagine it would be useful to have British copyright laws confirmed here, seeing as they would (from what I can tell) be relevant to everyone, not just people in the US.

But, you know, that's just me.

yes it would. If I knew what British agency was responsible for such laws. LOL

As a general rule, going by international treaties, anything copyrighted in the UK, Australia, or Canada, is copyrighted in the US. And vice versa.

yes it would. If I knew what British agency was responsible for such laws. LOL

As a general rule, going by international treaties, anything copyrighted in the UK, Australia, or Canada, is copyrighted in the US. And vice versa.

Probably the Patent Office, but I'm not entirely sure if it's all under their remit.

I fully respect copyrights, and as a result of that respect, I do not download files without licenses from their proprietors, nor do I visit sites *cough* *cough* *ebaumsworld.com* *cough* *cough* that steal from others.

THe US Congress changed that and you are no longer required to file for a copyright. You only need to publish your work in order to have a copyright to it. By posting to a forum or sending an email or printing a letter or work, you are engaged in an act of publication.

So, by quoting you I'm violating your copyright on this post?

Ieffreann said this, I think: So, by quoting you I'm violating your copyright on this post?

I hope he doesn't sue...

Not 30 year olds!!:rolleyes:

30 year old rock groups consisting either of new people who are usually uptight rock "stars" or people who were 30 when the band got old - 10 years after it started 40 years ago.

So, by quoting you I'm violating your copyright on this post?

Without proper citation, yes, that is the case.

So, by quoting you I'm violating your copyright on this post?

not if you are using it for your commentery. Your posts are fair usage.

Urban Dead's still going, eh?

BARHAH!!

#14. "The average person who has an official copyright even owns the rights to it."
Nope.


I can only refer to this quote: http://www.bash.org/?737769

The scary thing is: that really happened: the MPAA used a blogging-program and blatantly ignored its license, which basically said: you can use this program for free of you link back to us. They carefully removed all links to the original site.

Yes. These laws only apply in the US.

The server's not in the US. US laws don't apply, as much as money grubbing RIAA slugs wish it were otherwise.

Yes. These laws only apply in the US.

The server is in the UK, and the site is owned by an Australian, but anyhow don't let that get in the way of your myopic provincial crusade.


Having said that, shouldn't this be in Gameplay?

BARHAH!!

Bahr ahn brahnz! BARHAH!

Yes. These laws only apply in the US.
Copyright law varies from nation to nation but other countries have mcuh stricter copyright laws than the US does.
You should contact the agency in charge of copyrights in your nation for more information.

This implies giving a shit.

The server's not in the US. US laws don't apply, as much as money grubbing RIAA slugs wish it were otherwise.

Under treaty they are still protected, only you have to go by the much stricter British copyright rules.

#17. The publication of this list will change how copyright laws are respected.

False. Nothing short of Nazis riding dinosaurs would work.

Mods! Mods! Please delete this post. It's violating the intellectual copyright of Drawn Together.

Oswald The Lucky Rabbit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_The_Lucky_Rabbit)

Disney(R) finds a way to steal everything.

EDIT: Okay, that wasn't exactly stealing, but they make lots of their money off of public domain.

Mods! Mods! Please delete this post. It's violating the intellectual copyright of Drawn Together.

How about a boy insorbed by a trapper keeper, then? ;)

Really, I don't ever have an issue unless the holders of the copyright are actually losing money as a direct result of the infringement.

Really, I don't ever have an issue unless the holders of the copyright are actually losing money as a direct result of the infringement.

Could you provide examples? Thanks.

Could you provide examples? Thanks.

Illegally downloading music,software and movies that you would have otherwise purchased had they not been available illegally for free.

Also any form of plagiarizing, which redirects dollars (or credit) from the original material to the copy.

Illegally downloading music,software and movies that you would have otherwise purchased had they not been available illegally for free.

Also any form of plagiarizing, which redirects dollars from the original material to the copy.

Oh...

Well, I personally don't see things like that, but De gustibus non est disputandum, I suppose. For now, anyway.

THe US Congress changed that and you are no longer required to file for a copyright. You only need to publish your work in order to have a copyright to it. By posting to a forum or sending an email or printing a letter or work, you are engaged in an act of publication.

No, you're twisting the law. In order to have the copyright recognized and thus be enforceable, the copyright must be filed. Just because I published something doesn't mean I can demand a fee for reproduction. It is unenforcable until a legal copyright is filed. Until I do that, it is in a legal gray area of being "technically" copyrighted, but completely unenforceeable.

Illegally downloading music,software and movies that you would have otherwise purchased had they not been available illegally for free.

Also any form of plagiarizing, which redirects dollars (or credit) from the original material to the copy.

No problem, until I started downloading music I never bought any. Now I buy a fair bit. Why? If I like the artist I'll buy the music, even though I usually listen to Pandora.

So, fuck you very much RIAA. Bastards.

So basically anything anyone ever said is copyright and everyone in the world is a criminal.

So basically anything anyone ever said is copyright and everyone in the world is a criminal.

I thought so first, I'm gonna sue!

So basically anything anyone ever said is copyright and everyone in the world is a criminal.

Good thread summary.

I thought so first, I'm gonna sue!
You can't sue him I'm sueing him!
And I'm sueing you also!

And I'll sue the OP for daring to use the 'create new thread' button when I've already copyrighted it by clicking on it.

PS: The OPer is a scarmongering idiot. Now he can sue me for slander. ;)

Since I keep seeing mass violations of copyright laws on these forums I thought I'd post this

1. Blah blah blah
2. Blah blah blah
3. Blah blah blah.. blah blah
4. Blah blah blah
5. Blah blah blah.. Blah
6. Blah blah blah
7. Blah blah blah
8. Blah blah blah.. blah
9. Blah blah blah
10. Blah blah blah
11. Blah blah blah

This is a public service announcement so people on these forums can stop violating my precious copyrights.
Location Location Location

Not very well, it's becoming quite unbalanced again. For a while it was around 46% 54% zombies (With half the malls taken) but now it's around
68% humans 32% Zombies, (and no malls even being attacked) it's kind of dull.

They did add clothing and new weapons however.


The SSZ stands strong and Ridleybank is now being overrun by the humans through a collect assault of the zone defenders and affiliated groups of the SSZ,...... good old days of zombie domination are coming to an end due to survivor persistence and smartening up :)

Blackmore ftw >_>

The SSZ stands strong and Ridleybank is now being overrun by the humans through a collect assault of the zone defenders and affiliated groups of the SSZ,...... good old days of zombie domination are coming to an end due to survivor persistence and smartening up :)

Blackmore ftw >_>

So by smartening up you mean no longer acting like brain-dead cockroaches?

So by smartening up you mean no longer acting like brain-dead cockroaches?

No I mean by actually making an infrastructure instead of the ol every anarchist for themselves.

THe US Congress changed that and you are no longer required to file for a copyright. You only need to publish your work in order to have a copyright to it. By posting to a forum or sending an email or printing a letter or work, you are engaged in an act of publication.

You know if you read the agreements before signing up to forums. A lot of them actually have you sign away the copyright to anything you publish on them. They own it not you.

Under treaty they are still protected, only you have to go by the much stricter British copyright rules.

Quite frankly my dear I don't give a damn.

Quite frankly my dear I don't give a damn.
I'm sueing you on behalf of the owners of the rights to Gone with the wind.

I'm sueing you on behalf of the owners of the rights to Gone with the wind.

And what if I'm that owner?

You can't sue him I'm sueing him!
And I'm sueing you also!

And I'll sue the OP for daring to use the 'create new thread' button when I've already copyrighted it by clicking on it.

PS: The OPer is a scarmongering idiot. Now he can sue me for slander. ;)

Libel. This is technically written down.

Like much in the legal arena, copyright law is only enforced if there's enough money in it to satisfy the lawyers involved. No lawyer takes penniless defendants to civil court, and unless the infraction is sufficiently egregious, neither to criminal court.

Like much in the legal arena, copyright law is only enforced if there's enough money in it to satisfy the lawyers involved. No lawyer takes penniless defendants to civil court, and unless the infraction is sufficiently egregious, neither to criminal court.

Oh come on now, don't make lawyers sound like bloodsucking, money-hungry bastards.

I intend on staying just as cuddly as I presently am :D

Oh come on now, don't make lawyers sound like bloodsucking, money-hungry bastards.

I intend on staying just as cuddly as I presently am :D

I love every last one of your adorable spines, you sexy Native porcupine, you!

Location Location Location

Ooooh...Did the mean poster show your support of piracy to be what it is?

It seems to me that going to a movie with a digital video camera and selling copies on DVD (*cough*China*cough*) is piracy, a violation of copyright and effectively stealing.

Making a mix CD for a lover or friend is, too, but there are levels.

Murder 1, Murder 2, Manslaughter, Involuntary Manslaughter, etc.

So why not Copyright Infringement 1, Crappy Mix CD Creation, 11 copies instead of 10, etc.?

That's kinda the way it is now, given the ability and necessity of enforcement of copyright law.