Copyright Question!

[Technophile]

Am I allowed to freely copy any texts that are hosted on this site, or do the site owners claim publisher's copyright on them so that I must ask for their permission?

[Logos]

Which "texts" do you mean?

[Technophile]

The texts hosted on the main site. The stories by L. Frank Baum, for example.

[Technophile]

Since no-one has seen fit to answer my question, I am going to proceed on the basis that silence denotes consent.

[Logos]

Since no-one has seen fit to answer my question, I am going to proceed on the basis that silence denotes consent.

Uhhmm...ok. But not usually a good assumption to make. People have jobs, lives, etc in the real world

Most of the works by Frank L. Baum are out of copyright.

If you're going to use potentially copyrighted material you should always check for _yourself_ authorship information ie: who wrote it and when. More info here ..

[Technophile]

The original works hosted on this site might be Public Domain, but that doesn't prevent the site owners claiming publisher's copyright, the status of which I have tried and failed to ascertain.

[OrphanPip]

The original works hosted on this site might be Public Domain, but that doesn't prevent the site owners claiming publisher's copyright, the status of which I have tried and failed to ascertain.

You can't really claim copyright of a public domain work, unless you're talking about a translation or editorial notes in an edition. Project Gutenberg hosts some books for free distribution which are not in the public domain, in which case these works are still copyrighted but the copyright holder is allowing the book to be distributed for free on the internet. The difference here is that the use of a book that has been released for free distribution may be limited to simply private reading, as in you could not rewrite the story for a movie screenplay or something and sell it as yours without the copyright holders permission.

If a text is public domain where you live there's nothing anybody can do to stop you from using the work. You can even print it out in your basement and sell copies.

People who claim any sort of copyright over public domain material are committing fraud. They can however own images or notes added to a text, which could make the text as a whole with the notes included not in the public domain.

[Logos]

Thanks Pip

Most of the _works_ of Frank L. Baum are out of copyright. You can do what you want with their words. So that is pretty straight forward.

There's the message at the bottom of every page here

"Site Copyright © Jalic Inc. 2000 - 2010. All Rights Reserved."

(ja I know the forum pages' message should be updated.. lol..)

So this means.. and you have your own website so I guess you should know this stuff.. you can use Baum's words but you can't reproduce pages from this site, as in.. the code, the design, images, any other unique content created by and or for the owner unless it is strictly for personal use.

[Technophile]

So I can copy them the way that I am (cell phone open in front of me, typing the text into my PC). Thanks for the clarification, Logos. Publisher's copyright means that I can copy the words, but the layout of them is protected for 25 years if it's altered.

Oh, and Logos, I don't have my own website, I'm copying short stories by various children's authors for my own personal use. I only taught myself about copyright law (especially here in the UK) because I am a singer/songwriter.

[AuntShecky]

Oh, and by the way, if there's anyone out there reading anything on this site that is the original work of individual members, don't even think about copying it. About 18 months ago another website lifted some material from
the LitNet and posted works by the members without attribution or permission.

The whole incident caused much pain among this LitNet community.

It is my understanding that works posted online, even those with a pseudonym and without a copyright notice are the property of the original author.

Am I right, administrators?

[Jassy Melson]

I'm not an administrator, but I can tell you that a work that is posted online remains the property of the author, unless the author gives the property away or sells it.

[Technophile]

@ AuntShecky and Jassy Melson: You are both correct. @ everyone else: Google 'Berne Convention' for confirmation and further details.

[Admin]

You can use the texts on the site.

What you cannot use are author biographies, summaries, introductions, etc. All of the accoutrements that accompany the texts.