all stuff here is copyright by me

Jan 20, 2012 08:36:12

I've brought this up before:

There is a copyright issue: I maintain a copyright on all content on permies.com. I have a variety of reasons for this. But I just need to make it clear that I do maintain a copyright on all content on all of my sites.

There is a long list of reasons I maintain a copyright over all my stuff. I have given mountains of stuff to the public domain and to a variety of "copyleft"-ish things. And for the last 15 years I have followed a path of maintaining a copyright on everything, and if anybody wants to publish under my umbrella, they have to trust me.

So, if you take a picture, post it under my copyright, and then go post the same picture somewhere else, do you think I'm gonna make the tiniest unhappy sound? On the other hand, if somebody copies the page and posts it somewhere else and says that the picture (and the rest of the page) is their property ....

So everything posted here falls under my umbrella copyright. You can see my copyright at the bottom.

Jan 20, 2012 09:19:34

paul wheaton wrote:So everything posted here falls under my umbrella copyright.

Even things that other people create and post on these forums?

Jan 20, 2012 09:22:44

P Thickens wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:So everything posted here falls under my umbrella copyright.

Even things that other people create and post on these forums?

Yup.

Folks can write stuff and keep it on their computer and keep their copyright choices to themselves. Maybe it's public domain. Maybe copyleft. Whatever. And they can fire up a web site or blog and put it there and make their own choices about that sort of thing.

But if they submit it here, I will probably be okay with publishing it - but I'll only publish it under my copyright umbrella.

Jan 20, 2012 18:52:41

I feel like you can probably do everything you want without claiming copyright on other user's content. Facebook is somewhat similar in that people post content on Facebook and Facebook publishes it various forms. Here's what they say on their site:

Do I retain the copyright and other legal rights to material I upload to Facebook?

Yes, you retain the copyright to your content. When you upload your content, you grant us a license to use and display that content. For more information please visit our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, which contain information about intellectual property, as well as your privileges and responsibilities as a Facebook user.

https://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=193430577370347#Do-I-retain-the-copyright-and-other-legal-rights-to-material-I-upload-to-Facebook?

I feel like saying you own the copyright reaches farther than you need to, and in doing so you're putting people who contribute to the forums in a position where they may be participating in illegal or dishonest activity (e.g., take a picture, post it here, and then printing it). Whereas, if you simply said "Posting content here gives me (Paul Wheaton) the license to use it in any way I want" is actually more amenable and still leaves the copyright in the hands of the creator.

Does this really matter all that much? No probably not. However, I think it may discourage some people from posting their full content on this site and instead link to it, and I think that would be disappointing and unnecessary.

All that to say: Thank you, Paul, for these forums and the wonderful podcasts, videos, and articles. I'm indebted to you for the information you've provided.

Jan 21, 2012 07:19:47

This issue is probably over-sensitized by the current Intellectual Property brouhaha (SOPA, PIPA). I doubt ownership of this content is such a big deal -- no Magnum Opus are likely to be produced in a forum called "meaningless drivel" any time soon.

Jan 21, 2012 11:06:33

it was for this very reason i left face-book and will never return because they can use what you say
in their advertising. even a single click on the "like" button for example. They could then begin
an advertisement saying that i have endorsed this product (having liked it) and you should too.

that didn't sit well with me one Bit. and i bid them fair well.

everyone should receive credit where credit is due....that's very important. like i do allot of art for fun and sometimes for free
but when someone claims they created it and won't even acknowledge that i made it originally then their all done.

Most artwork however on the net is free to re-use and it's a sticky subject to be sure but it has been challenged
in the supreme court and lost to the fact that unless someone profits by having borrowed it, it isn't illegal.

It wasn't my idea to go to some crazy nightclub in the middle of nowhere. I just wanted to stay home and cuddle with this tiny ad:

The new gardening playing cards kickstarter is now live!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/garden-cards