10 big myths about copyright explained

10 Big Myths about 10 Big Myths about copyright explainedcopyright explained

Article By,Article By,Brad TempletonBrad Templeton

Presentation By,Presentation By,MattMatt

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These are These are MYTHS!MYTHS!

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These are MYTHS!These are MYTHS!Drum roll please…

The Top Ten:The Top Ten:

1. "If it 1. "If it doesn't have doesn't have a copyright a copyright notice, it's not notice, it's not copyrighted." copyrighted."

1. "If it 1. "If it doesn't have doesn't have a copyright a copyright notice, it's not notice, it's not copyrighted." copyrighted."

Doesn’t copywritten sound better?



2. "If I don't 2. "If I don't charge for it, charge for it, it's not a it's not a violation." violation."


2. "If I don't 2. "If I don't charge for it, charge for it, it's not a it's not a violation." violation."

*cough* Napster


3. “If it's 3. “If it's posted to posted to Usenet it's in Usenet it's in the public the public domain."domain."


3. “If it's 3. “If it's posted to posted to Usenet it's in Usenet it's in the public the public domain."domain."

Pretty much nothing worth while is in the public domain.


4. "My 4. "My posting was posting was just fair use! just fair use!


4. "My 4. "My posting was posting was just fair use! just fair use!

“Do’h!” – Homer Simpson from The Simpsons.


5. "If you don't 5. "If you don't defend your defend your copyright you copyright you lose it." lose it." "Somebody "Somebody has that name has that name copyrighted!" copyrighted!"


5. "If you don't 5. "If you don't defend your defend your copyright you copyright you lose it." lose it." "Somebody "Somebody has that name has that name copyrighted!" copyrighted!"

Isn’t this two myths under the number 5 bullet?


6. "If I make 6. "If I make up my own up my own stories, but stories, but base them on base them on another work, another work, my new work my new work belongs to belongs to me." me."


6. "If I make 6. "If I make up my own up my own stories, but stories, but base them on base them on another work, another work, my new work my new work belongs to belongs to me." me."

Good news for Mel Brooks!


7. "They 7. "They can't get me, can't get me, defendants defendants in court have in court have powerful powerful rights!" rights!"


7. "They 7. "They can't get me, can't get me, defendants defendants in court have in court have powerful powerful rights!" rights!"

Want to know first hand? Try it!


8. “Oh, so 8. “Oh, so copyright copyright violation violation isn't a crime isn't a crime or or anything?" anything?"


8. “Oh, so 8. “Oh, so copyright copyright violation violation isn't a crime isn't a crime or or anything?" anything?"

I wonder how I look in this blue hew…


9. "It doesn't 9. "It doesn't hurt hurt anybody - in anybody - in fact it's free fact it's free advertising." advertising."


9. "It doesn't 9. "It doesn't hurt hurt anybody - in anybody - in fact it's free fact it's free advertising." advertising."

They are the ones that would sue you after all.


10. "They e-10. "They e-mailed me a mailed me a copy, so I copy, so I can post it." can post it."


10. "They e-10. "They e-mailed me a mailed me a copy, so I copy, so I can post it." can post it."

Whew, that was a long list.


11. "So I 11. "So I can't ever can't ever reproduce reproduce anything?" anything?"


11. "So I 11. "So I can't ever can't ever reproduce reproduce anything?" anything?"

Eleven? WTF?

Questions:Questions:

What are your What are your thoughts on “fair thoughts on “fair use?”use?”

Who should be Who should be responsible for responsible for tracking down tracking down copyrighted material copyrighted material illegally published on illegally published on the web?the web?

10 big myths about copyright explained

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