Information versus format --- Birth, Marriage, Death Records are not
copyrighted information ..... The copyright is on what is done with that
information (i.e., compilation, works, publications by someone, (the mere
documenting the marriage in the marriage book did not give Cleo Patterson a
copyright on the marriage information; There is what's known as FAIR USE
... which is what I believe Bill was referring to below, while it should be
straightforward it is not, fair use is a tricky concept because it is not
extremely clear how much is considered to be Fair Use". However a big
picture here is.... Just because a staff writer or a journalist for that
matter creates a document or publication - if they are doing so in the
course of their work, depending on how their contract is written, it
normally becomes the property of your employer. I do know that some
freelancers sued last year because some of their works were sold to an
entity and then they put them on a usenet or user group, and they wanted
additional payments, I don't believe that has been settled, but that is
selling "one work". When you work for a AT&T or a Lucent type business, if
you create a patentable product or publishable document while in their
employment, that patent or copyright falls to them. What I am attempting to
get across here is that "just because Jane Smiley wrote an article about GW"
while she was working for Wexler Newspaper, does not mean that she is the
"copyright owner" of that article, if her employer is paying her to write
the article and she is in their employment, the copyright would normally go
to the Wexler Newspaper unless she has made arrangements other than that in
a contract.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Clody <bclody(a)charter.net>
To: <GAGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 8:15 AM
Subject: Re: [GAGEN] Posting obituaries on list
Any thing you write has an implied common law copyright whether or
not you
claim copyright on it. Registration with the United States Copyright office
is a formality for strengthening that implied copyright. Copyright law does
provide for limited quotation of a source if credit is given.
----- Original Message -----
From: Tina Peddie
To: GAGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2001 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: [GAGEN] Posting obituaries on list
HI VIVIAN,
Wow, did I have it wrong! So, anything you read in a newspaper, you
can't "quote" in an email, if you say it's from such and such
newspaper???
I see this occurring all the time on all kinds of lists ... is
there
something in particular everyone should be watching out for? Does
each
ARTICLE have a "copyright" symbol on it if it is copyrighted and cannot
be
used?
I'm on several different TYPES of email lists, as most of us are,
and I
see quotes from newspapers and magazine articles all the time.
Would
this
apply to all?
Thanks much,
TINA
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Saffold <msaffold(a)bellsouth.net>
To: <GAGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2001 6:10 AM
Subject: Re: [GAGEN] Posting obituaries on list
> I would like to echo Joyce Dixon's email. A newspaper and its contents
are
> not public at all, but the legally-copyrighted product of a
privately-owned
> business. Not only is this distinction important to the protection of
> intellectual properties, but also to the American way of life!
> Vivian Price Saffold
> also a former journalist
>
> At 05:29 PM 12/16/01 -0800, you wrote:
> >MELODY:
> > Why dont you call the newspaper and ask if there is any copyright
> >problem, or is it ok to give this info t o people who want it??
I
dont
> >see why you can't post the info... THE NEWSPAPER is PUBLIC, as is the
> >internet!!
> >What are the people saying who are against posting it?? What's their
reason
> >or legal reason??
> >I can't imagine it would be illegal, and it sure isn't immoral!
> >Let us know!
> >Tina
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Melody <mmccook(a)bellsouth.net>
> >To: <GAGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> >Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 4:03 AM
> >Subject: [GAGEN] Posting obituaries on list
> >
> >
> > > Good morning all,
> > >
> > > I've had a small problem come up on my list that I've seen on a
couple
of
> >others.
> > >
> > > I have a number of subscribers that would like to see the weekly
obits
> >from our County posted onto the mailing list each week.
These obits
are
> >released twice a week and usually number 10 or less all
total.
> > >
> > > we have one subscriber that is extremely upset that these obits
are
being
> >posted by a volunteer.
> > > Has anyone encountered this before and how did you handle it?
> > >
> > > I've also been a bit concerned about the copyright issue and I'm
not
clear
> >on the copyright of obituaries. I do know that I can get permission
from
a
> >couple of the funeral homes in Coffee County to post them, (I haven't
asked
> >the newspaper yet)
> > >
> > > This issue has caused some friction on my list and it seems the
majority
> >of the subscribers want this service.
> > >
> > > Any thoughts?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Melody
> > > cc for Coffee County GaGenWeb
> > > cc for Atkinson County GaGenWeb
> > > South Central Regional Coordinator
> > >
> > >
> > > ==== GAGEN Mailing List ====
> > > Got a problem? Contact your RC or ASC at GAGENWEB-L(a)rootsweb.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >==== GAGEN Mailing List ====
> >For researching SURNAMES, check out GAGenWeb's new help page with
links
> >to the most popular Surname sites:
> >http://www.rootsweb.com/~gagenweb/cchelp/surname/
>
> 3570 Hildon Circle
> Chamblee, GA 30341
> Note: new email address and url
> msaffold(a)bellsouth.net
>
http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/~msaffold
>
>
> ==== GAGEN Mailing List ====
> Do you have a suggestion to include in our taglines? If so, please
write
> GAGENWEB-L(a)rootsweb.com
>
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