🚀 go-pugleaf

rkrouse@netcom.com (Robert K. Rouse) writes:



>  Someone told me that everything on the Internet is automatically
>copyrighted to the author.  Is this true and what does it mean
>if it is true?

Yes, it's covered by the Berne Convention on International Copyright.
Copyright is implied, it no longer requires the little circle with a 'c'
in it.

>   I would like to collect together my favorite FAQs into a book
>with a little editing but not too much rewriting.  How would the
>copyrights affect my plans.  Would I have to pay royalties?

Almost certainly, but if you DID decide to go ahead with it, it would be 
up to the copyright holder to pursue it should he so wish, international
boundaries will no longer protect you, if the copyright holder is in, say,
Finland and decides to pursue you, all he has to do is raise an action in
the US under the Berne Convention..

Why not just write them and ask their permission first?
Most folks would be quite pleased to see their contributions in print and
would probably give you the go ahead provided you gave them accredition.

Could save you a *lot* of legal wrangling later


Dave

-- 

In article <1992Nov20.133657.22672@netcom.com> rkrouse@netcom.com (Robert K. Rouse) writes:
>  Someone told me that everything on the Internet is automatically
> copyrighted to the author.  Is this true and what does it mean
> if it is true?

This is correct [although, I would say USENET rather than Internet].

The Berne Convention made it fundamental that the excercise of the rights
guaranteed by the convention shall not be subject to any formality.

The Berne Convention applies to many countries and includes the U.S..

The interpretation is that any work has [most] copyright protections with or
without the presence of a copyright notice as soon as it has been fixed in
form.

The question of what rights authors reserve when they release their
work via USENET is an open question.  You will find people quite happy
to attempt to fill bandwidth arguing the topic but until the courts
and the legislature get around to examining the issue, it is all hype,
drivel, and posturing.

>   I would like to collect together my favorite FAQs into a book
> with a little editing but not too much rewriting.  How would the
> copyrights affect my plans.  Would I have to pay royalties?

I would suggest that you contact the authors of your favorite FAQs
and secure their permissions.  Not only will it save you from possible
future legal problems, it is the polite and ethically sound thing
to do.

You may be pleasantly surprised.  Most people who write or maintain
FAQs are probably interested in sharing information and would simply
release their work for inclusion in your book - subject to proper
attribution and review of your editing.

Or simply -
Why not try doing the right thing before trying the expedient thing?

Aydin Edguer
an FAQ maintainer

In article <1992Nov20.133657.22672@netcom.com> rkrouse@netcom.com (Robert K. Rouse) writes:

     Someone told me that everything on the Internet is automatically
   copyrighted to the author.  Is this true and what does it mean
   if it is true?

      I would like to collect together my favorite FAQs into a book
   with a little editing but not too much rewriting.  How would the
   copyrights affect my plans.  Would I have to pay royalties?

Ask the authors.  If you don't profit from their works, they will
probably give permission.  If you expect to profit, some will
expect their share.

There doesn't seem to be much if any legal precedent; there are
ideas about what the courts would decide; but the general feeling
I hear is "Be a good neighbor", which is what the law tries to
enforce.  Try to picture what you would expect if the situation
were reversed.  Golden rule, etc.

--
J Lee Jaap <J.L.Jaap@LaRC.NASA.Gov> +1 804/864-2148
    employed by, not speaking for, AS&M Inc, at
         NASA LaRC, Hampton VA 23681-0001