Copyright - What you should know

[Xenon Design]

Hi guys,
Its been a while since ive been on here. Since then i have been working a on a PHP project that im not going to reveal. However, this post is to explain the Copyright laws and what rights you have. This is important for people that make websites and graphics as I have found it useful.

What is copyright?
Basically everyone knows this...Copyright is your right to own any of your work without any other person copying and making off from your work

How do i get work Copyrighted?
Its very simple and free. To get any waork copyrighted basically you have to 'do the work'. Once you press save or finish that graphic or even sketch that website, those documents are automatically yours under copyright. No 'ifs' and no 'buts'....ITS YOURS

How do I show Copyright?
Well after reading several copyright sites they suggest the following:

Copyright (c) {year of construction} {Your name or company}

Now most people put the next or latest year for copyright. Thats actually bad for them. Because then if someone duplicates your work and puts an earlier copyright date on your work then they may 'in court' win...but you'll probably be able to prove its your work.

So always put the year that you started/constructed the work and you'll be fine.

Although heres a catch, little (c) doesnt have to appear to enforce copyright. The US passed a bill that basically said 'Any work completed is automatically copyrighted by the Author'. Even with or without our favourite (c).

Someones copied my stuff. What do I do?
Well ill take the senario of stolen graphics off a website. The owner can take several options:

1) Leave it and let them use it
2) Email them and thell them to remove the item off their site
3) Get legal advice and maybe legal action

Legal action should be a last resort because a simple email to the stealer should get them to remove it.

Now im posting this on x10 because theres alot of people here who have had work taken. I have had a design stolen but a simple chat to the person got it changed.

I just want to emphasise the part on how to show copyright. Its not the current year or next year its the year that you made the work, when you pressed save, when u finished that sketch or when you finished that tutorial.

Also remember that copyright is automatic and free, with or without (c). I have seen stuff that people in the US have to register their work on a website....but ill let that up to US people to find out

Heres the Wikipedia article on Copyright: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright

So I hope I saved you from reading treaturous legal documents on Copyright

This article on copyright is funilly enough Copyright-ed. Contact me before reproductions. :lockd:

Article made out of boredom!

[SEÑOR]

Great research. And about things being copyrighted once u save it I dont think it works like that in North America.

[Phil]

Great research. And about things being copyrighted once u save it I dont think it works like that in North America.

Yes, I thought there was some other rules to this as well.

I think there was a post on it way back when as I have been on vaca for almost 3 if not more months now.

[syraxe]

Nice info dude... Thanks...

And to add to it, How do you actually prove that the file or the document that you have created is yours?

Don't you have to get it registered somewhere for it then?

[Xenon Design]

Well with files now they have a 'created on' field within the file. Usually this is good enough but you may need to use a witness or some proof that would be good in court, if you decide to go that way :p

[syraxe]

Yea... That must be so.. Well, going all that far to fight for a little picture that you created using Photoshop isn't actually worth it..

Unless you really have created something extra-ordinary and believe that you have monetary gain from it..

[clareto]

"Modified on" property is not secure. Change the date of your system, modify the file and the fake is done. The easier way I've found to prove that "I have the original files before than you" is by sending an email to myself. Its a little harder to change the date of the Yahoo or Gmail servers than change the date of your PC.

More info can be found at www.whatiscopyright.org