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Posted By
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Message
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JP
Registered
07/06/2003
Points
1338
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21st May, 2004 at 19:16:21 -
I just saw Bubble Mania(c) on the front page, to clear up some misconceptions about Copyright laws:
1. A copyright is a legal device that provides the creator of a work of art or literature,or a work that conveys information or ideas, the right to control how the work is isused.
2. You do NOT need to register your copyright, nor do you need to add (C) to everything. A copyright is in effect as soon as the work is complete.
3. A work is protected by copyright only if, and to the extent, it is independently created by the author. A copyright comes into effect as soon as the product is in a tangible form.
4. Although you do not need a (C), it is a good idea, when a work contains a valid copyrigt notice, an infringer cannot claim in court that he didn't know it was copyrighted. This makes it much easier to win acopyright infringement case.
5. Registration is not mandatory, but it gives you right to get attorneys' fees and statutory damages up to $100,000 in an infringement suit. Registration is relatively easy: You fill out an applicationform and submit it along with two copies of the work to the Copyright Office.
6. Most copyrights last for the life of the author plus fifty years. However, if the work is published anonymously or under a pseudonym, the copyrightlasts between seventy five and one hundred years, depending on the date the workis published.
Trademarks and Service Marks:
1. The copyright laws protect original works of expression, but specifically do not protect names, titles or short phrases. This is where trademark protection comes in. Under state and federal laws, distinctive words, phrases, logos, symbols and slogans can qualify as trademarks or service marks if they are used to identify and distinguish a product or service in the marketplace.
2. Service Marks are the same as Trade Marks, except they are reserved for services.
3. (R) The (R) is a different matter entirely. This notice may not be put on a mark unless it has been registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The failure to put the notice on a mark that has been so registered can result in a signficiant handicap if it later becomes necessary to file a lawsuit againstan infringer of the mark.
Steve Zissou: Anne-Marie, do all the interns get Glocks?
Anne-Marie: No, they have to share one.
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gizmo
Registered
15/03/2003
Points
1206
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21st May, 2004 at 20:53:32 -
Nice and comprehensive  Where did you copy & paste that from 
<signature> err... </signature>
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Kramy
Registered
08/06/2002
Points
1888
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21st May, 2004 at 21:12:24 -
http://www.indiecentre.com/info/article.cfm?CategoryID=0&ArticleID=9
Kramy
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JP
Registered
07/06/2003
Points
1338
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21st May, 2004 at 22:48:02 -
I commited a federal offense!
Steve Zissou: Anne-Marie, do all the interns get Glocks?
Anne-Marie: No, they have to share one.
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Evil Monkey
Registered
08/12/2002
Points
598
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22nd May, 2004 at 00:14:35 -
Umm... where I live (In the U.S.), you have to pay lots of money to get your work legimately copyrighted. My dad told me that, and he used to work as a lawyer.
Project Progress:
1.: Droid Runner (5% Complete)
Finishing Up Game Engine
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Kramy
Registered
08/06/2002
Points
1888
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22nd May, 2004 at 00:42:02 -
Evil Monkey: Incorrect. Everything is legitimately copyrighted as soon as you make it.
Good luck proving it to a judge though, if someone copyrights your idea before you do. 
Kramy
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