the point is....... The U.S. Copyright Office is seeking opinions on how to proceed on a VERY specific area of copyrights...... please focus your thoughts on "Orphan Works" and follow the procedures at http://www.copyright.gov/orphan/ to send your opinions to them. I think its a wonderful opportunity to be heard, but remember they are only asking about a specific area. The rest of the copyright laws are not in question. You have to read the web link above to narrow down what is in question. Linda :o) On May 3, 2005, at 8:15 AM, Lsnehring@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 5/3/2005 12:57:59 A.M. Central Standard Time, > GeoFiles@aol.com writes: > > I think your all trying to make something big out of copyright law. > For > myself > > > I don't think anything "big" is being made out of it - this is a law we > should all respect. The problem as I would see it is when someone > comes along, > copies 50% or all of your publication and then puts it in THEIR book, > making > people think they did all that work. > > That's not only illegal but downright rude in my estimation. I, too, > have > always given my work out freely, and it has been used by others > without credit. > Personally, I don't care, as long as the info gets out there. > > And part of the original question was when you can copy a book that is > no > longer under copyright and/or the author cannot be located for > permission. Very > valid points to ask. >