In a message dated 97-11-08 01:09:59 EST, you write: << Date: Wed, 05 Nov 1997 11:45:09 +0000 From: dragoona@rica.net To: PENNSYLVANIA-ROOTS-L <PENNSYLVANIA-ROOTS-L@listserv.indiana.edu> Message-ID: <34605C45.F043DF9@rica.net> Subject: FYI: Netiquette and Copyright laws Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit x-no-archive: yes Hello, FYI. Recently had a problem with someone posting a private email to a list. The man who did this insisted he had the right to do whatever he pleased with an email sent to him. This is not only considered improper by most people but according to copyright laws, illegal. Since 1989, any written material created privately and originally is considered copyrighted whether or not the person specifically says it. The writer is the sole owner and no one has the right to reprint or repost the article without permission. This applies to private emails. Just because a letter was sent to you, it does not give you any rights to it. (This is akin to receiving a magazine in the mail and then posting it on the net.) I think most people would take it as common courtesy to ask permission first. But to those who feel they own it if it was sent to them, think again. The man who did was removed from that list! There are several sites on the net where copyright laws are explained. Here is one : http://www.pitt.edu/~skvarka/education/copyright/ >> Dear Penna-Dutch Friends, I took the above advice and went to the web site noted above. It is written by a "Christopher B. Svarka" individual with no stated credentials. WHO IS CHRIS SVARKA?? He refers to the "Berne Copyright Convention" as the source of the internet standards he is referring to that occurred April 1, 1989. At the above site, it is stated that "most nations" honor the copyright standards set by the Berne Convention...but that doesn't say that they have the power to invoke any sort of legal repercussion. It seems it is a group that got together in an effort to establish worldwide "netiquette", as it has been coined. Obviously, NO convention or organization has the power to declare something illegal, whether it be copyright or anything else, for multiple countries around the world!! This first web site, which is rather short and simple to read refers you to another site as his source of information....which is authored by "Brad Templeton". So, I continued my search for "credible sources". WHO IS BRAD TEMPLETON?? This next site also refers to the Berne Copyright Convention...only. Where, who, and what was this convention? In what country? Promoted, planned, organized, supported, and authorized by whom? Neither site mentions ANYTHING about US Goverment...federal laws, etc. Patent and copyright laws are federal and therefore, violation of such is a federal offense. The second site DID include as one of their links the US Library of Congress, which is the only site I would waste my time looking at because the US government is the only regulating agency I have to be concerned with. I recently completed my bachelor's degree in business administration and some of our classes did speak extensively about patent and copyright laws (copyright simply being a "patent" on intellectual property). By everything I was taught....your intellectual property is NOT protected by copyright laws in the US unless you have gone through the procedures and red tape to apply for a copyright to protect your property! Then, your copyright time is limited...it's not forever. This is confirmed in the US Library of Congress web site, which can be viewed at: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ They even address "internet" copyright and that page begins as follows: U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright Internet Resources The links to other resources is being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. The Copyright Office bears NO responsibility for the quality of information provided through other sites and computer systems. Providing a link to these other sites should not be construed as an endorsement or approval by the Copyright Office of these organizations or of the positions they may take on various issues. The Copyright Office maintains links only to web sites in the following categories: (1) government agencies; (2) international organizations; and (3) organizations that provide performance/publishing rights clearance functions. ******************************** Please note, they are disclaiming responsibility for anything said by individuals on other web sites regarding copyrights. As I also learned in college (BTW, I am NOT a young 22 yr old...I am a middle aged single parent who went back to school), our patent and copyrights laws ONLY protect us within the boundaries of the United States. We are NOT protected in other countries by these laws as once we or our product/intellectual property enter another country, we fall under THEIR laws...not the laws of the US! So.....the Berne Copyright Convention must have been trying to establish a standard which they hoped everyone would follow, but in no way has any "legal" ramifications. Although I believe everyone's heart and intentions are in the right place when they publish such "warnings" online...I wish they would first do more extensive research and rely only on "credible" resources rather than "John Doe's" web site and what he had to sayand his "opinions"! (You know what they say about "opinions"!) It would save us all a lot of trouble regarding the "myths and hype" we have to deal with on the internet and on our mail lists! I, for one, am tired of reading about everyone's "opinions" about internet copyright laws (that don't exist) when I want to read about genealogy! I'm sorry I took up space on the mail list for this, but I really am very tired of these frequent messages about copyright and attacks on people who try to share info with the different genealogy lists in good faith. If anyone actually finds legitimate, credible, written in black and white laws or regulations administered by the United States of America regarding copyright on the internet...I would greatly appreciate knowing about it and being able to read it. Otherwise....let's get back to genealogy!! ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Forgot how to SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE? Send the appropriate one word message to PENNA-DUTCH-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM