Theos-Talk Archives (December 1997 Message tl00016)

Vincent Beall wrote:
>
> Bart Lidofsky wrote:
> >
> > Vincent Beall wrote:
> > > Eldon, I have been told directly by copyright examiners at the US
> > > Copyright office that noone has a copyright without a copyright
> > > certificate, which must be applied for and a fee paid. They have also
> > > said that putting a copyright notice on your work offers some
> > > protection, but it is weak and may mean that you would lose a costly
> > > leagle battle to collect damages.
> > >
> > > Why don't you check with the copyright office directly?
> >
> >         I am interested in the exact wording of the question you asked the
> > examiner. Also, we are talking more about legal/illegal and right/wrong,
> > not what one can get away with.
> >
> >         Bart Lidofsky
>
> The legality is simply that your legal right to copyright is established
> by registration and reciept of the certificate. If you only post a
> notice of copyright without registration your right is not definitely
> estabished by law.

	From what I have read, it is not a matter of law, but a matter of
proving it in court. Or, as I said, getting away with it.

	Bart Lidofsky