The only problem with the Creative Commons license in the context of a community weblog like Metafilter is that each poster has an independent copyright in his/her posts. I can't find Matt's comments about this but I know he has said this a few times. Regardless of what he has said, each poster retains copyright in his/her own work. Each MeFite would have to agree to the Creative Commons license before Matt could do that. I suppose a one-time click-wrap (sorry quonsar) license could be added once for each member before they could post a link or comment that would state the terms of the CC license and from now on all comments are subject to said CC license. Sounds like a pain in the ass. posted by anathema at 7:41 AM on February 2, 2003
there are many such erroneous copyright statements among MeFi and MeTa
A server-side include could fix that right up.
The MetaFilter Network The
It's German for "The Bart, The." posted by kirkaracha at 7:47 AM on February 2, 2003
anathema covered a lot of it. Not sure if there's differences for digital print media, but for regular print media (columns, cartoons, etc.) you have a copyright by inference of the work simply existing, C symbol or not. From a lot of cartoonist I've talked to, only in really extreme circumstances does one need to register with the copyright office, because if anyone tried to copy (or even register in their own name) your work, in a lot of cases the posession of the original and the ability to recognize your own work in court suffices. I'm sure countless websites out there have sued to have stolen content removed without needing to actually file a form down at the copyright office. But yeah, the lack of "originals" does make it a riskier thing. There's been conversations about site content theft before here, I think. posted by XQUZYPHYR at 8:33 AM on February 2, 2003
I'm sure countless websites out there have sued to have stolen content removed without needing to actually file a form down at the copyright office.
Like I said, in order to bring suit under the Copyright Act, you must register the work. This can be done after the first infringement occurs but damages will be limited to actual damages and injunctions. posted by anathema at 8:41 AM on February 2, 2003
Actually, there are a few minor exceptions. Under the Visual Artists Rights Act (which is incorporated into the Copyright Act at 17 USC §106A) a suit may be brought without registration. This only applies to a work of visual art and has to do with the rights of attribution and integrity of the work. This came into being thanks to the moral rights requirements of the Berne Convention (6bis), but it only applies to visual art in the US.
(a) Except for an action brought for a violation of the rights of the author under section 106A(a), and subject to the provisions of subsection (b), no action for infringement of the copyright in any United States work shall be instituted until registration of the copyright claim has been made in accordance with this title. In any case, however, where the deposit, application, and fee required for registration have been delivered to the Copyright Office in proper form and registration has been refused, the applicant is entitled to institute an action for infringement if notice thereof, with a copy of the complaint, is served on the Register of Copyrights. The Register may, at his or her option, become a party to the action with respect to the issue of registrability of the copyright claim by entering an appearance within sixty days after such service, but the Register's failure to become a party shall not deprive the court of jurisdiction to determine that issue. posted by anathema at 8:52 AM on February 2, 2003
Just to be clear, the Visual Artists Rights Act (§106), does not address copying per se, but only with paternity (attribution) and integrity of the work. posted by anathema at 8:59 AM on February 2, 2003
Zerofoks and kirkaracha:
Why are stealing my name?!?!?!! Stop that!!!! posted by The Michael The at 9:53 AM on February 2, 2003
Never mind all this copyright stuff. I want names assigned to that MetaFilter Network 1978 picture Quonsar posted. posted by madamjujujive at 11:17 AM on February 2, 2003
that's you, front row left. posted by quonsar at 1:13 PM on February 2, 2003
i'm right next to jujube--bottom middle ; > posted by amberglow at 1:26 PM on February 2, 2003
oh, and i'm the guy in the back behind argyle-boy. posted by PrinceValium at 2:23 PM on February 2, 2003
How the hell did you find that, PrinceValium? posted by languagehat at 2:55 PM on February 2, 2003
Quonsar, you made Matt look like a freakish giant. posted by crunchland at 3:54 PM on February 2, 2003
he's not??? posted by quonsar at 4:44 PM on February 2, 2003
Sorry suckers, but all my comments are copyrighted, and if you so much as quote them, I will sue your ass until... until... until the loneliness goes away. [sobs] posted by Hildago at 4:54 PM on February 2, 2003
Someone posted it to #mefi. I am extremely inconsiderate for forgetting who it was. posted by PrinceValium at 4:56 PM on February 2, 2003
Sometimes MeTa is fun...quonsor, you made my day with the pic and the posts. posted by davidmsc at 8:38 PM on February 2, 2003
Like I said, in order to bring suit under the Copyright Act, you must register the work.
This applies in the US, certainly.
In the UK, we don't need to register copyright: it subsists in any original work from the moment such work is transferred to a tangible medium. One may establish it by placing documents with ones legal representative under witness, or by mailing the items to oneself by registered post, and submitting the unopened envelope as evidence.
Of course, since the US has signed up to the Berne convention, I may bring a suit under my local laws, as the copyright owner, even if the breach has occurred in the US, or indeed any other country which has signed up to the convention.
In short, it's worth checking your local laws if you want to establish copyright over your original work. posted by walrus at 7:43 AM on February 3, 2003
« Older The RSS Feed appears to have b... | It seems like others can get t... Newer »
Subscribe
posted by Orange Goblin at 2:35 AM on February 2, 2003