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Rondall
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 07:07 am: | 
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Does any one feel that there are different attitudes when it comes to authors and poets going to great lengths to protect their copyrights?
We are having a discussion on the poetry board about how most poets are so wrapped up in protecting their work that they are reluctant to share it in public spots like discussion boards.
(((On the flip side of that, I don't catch to many authors dropping their short stories anywhere for anyone's perusal.)))
Drop your 2 cents in, and maybe we can both make a dolla... |
NeeCee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 09:27 am: |
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I've heard of poets hearing their work read by other people elsewhere, so I can understand if they want to protect their work.
Haven't heard as much about authors... |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 10:23 am: |
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Rondall:
I have found both to be wrapped up in it--poets more so. And the poets that I have found to be more concerned about being ripped off are those who have no reputation.
I would not want to go to sites and find that someone had taken my work title and all, copied it and put their name on it. But the whole idea of getting out there is so that someone is influenced by you. I have, I believe on the poetree site, a poem dedicated to the Def Poetry Jam poets. How can I stop anyone from writing a poem on that subject. And if someone steals it and gets rich and famous, then I will be rich and famous as I have proof that I wrote it first.
It is a concern it seems to me especially of new or mostly unpublished poets that someone will take their work--most poets think their stuff is so good they don't even want to take someone else's, in fact today most poets don't even read other poets work or listen to it--they fear it may influence theirs.
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Rondall
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 12:48 pm: |
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Chris,
Brother you have spoken truth on your tooth! The trend these days is precisely not to read other poets. The poets that I am around have NO sense of history or accepted structure in their writing.
And I feel you on the lack of reputation! We smother our words by blanketing them with our paranoia.
The simple fact that most writers do not know that by simply recording or writing down their work...ANYWHERE!!!... is the initial step to protection under international copyright laws. Copyright protection begins when any of the above described work is actually created and fixed in a tangible form. Copyright is a protection that covers published and unpublished literary, scientific and artistic works, whatever the form of expression, provided such works are fixed in a tangible or material form. This means that if you can see it, hear it and/or touch it - it may be protected by copyright laws. Copyright laws grant the creator the exclusive right to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute, perform and display the work publicly. Exclusive means only the creator of such work, not anybody who has access to it and decides to grab it.
But you ain't heard from me...
Holla!
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Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:19 pm: |
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Rondall:
From those that I know who are inordinately afraid of theft may be using this as an excuse to keep from submitting their work. The only chance of their nightmare scenario developing is if they are producing rap lyrics. |
Rondall
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 01:24 pm: |
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CHRIS!!
You are way too funny! There is so much "biting" going on today that most of these records are more like a compilation of old hits from Biggie and Pac.
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ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 02:06 pm: |
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Rondall,
EVERYTHING is derivative of something else. Beethoven "stole" from Mozart who "stole" from Bach. Marseilles "stole" from Miles who "stole" from Satchmo. You gotta realize there a very few wholly and genuinely new human concepts, thoughts, beliefs, talents, experiences other than those that may be mostly the consequence of or affected by technological developments. And there are limits as to what is/not singularly protectible by US copyright law. For instance, you could probably find the phrase "I am in love..." in >1,000 discrete songs that have been published and are registered with the Library of Congress (LOC).
So, it's a waste of precious time/talent to be too concerned about someone biting your material. That effort would be much better applied in CREATING more material. If an artist is talented and prolific, her/his works and reputation will prevail over the deceptive efforts of any would-be bootleggers.
But if you are SO concerned about theft, know that according to US copyright law, artistic works are protected the very moment they are created. So even if you someone lifts your stuff, if you can prove that you are the original author, you can take action against the unapproved usage, publication or sale of your works.
And it's fairly simple, easy and inexpensive to register your works with the LOC (for $30 per registration submission, I believe), which virtually ensures the fullest protection. If you have a lot of unregistered poems/songs, simply package them all into a book and register the book. That way, even if you have >1,000 poems/song, they would ALL enjoy protection under US law. And, prospectively, if you are very prolific - creating reams of new materials on a regular basis - just set aside $30 every or every other week for registering a collection of your new materials with the LOC PRIOR to publicly presenting your goods.
Chris,
I agree that many wannabe artists are just using the faux copyright infringement issue to skirt developing and presenting their craft. Simply: They fear they are not as talented as they want to think that they are. |
Rondall
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 07:22 am: |
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ABM: You may have a very good point. However, I suspect that it may also be that some of these so called artist, whom are so self absorbed in their own so called work/art, truly believe that their poems are worth stealing.
They have sold a 'Bill of copy Rights' inadvertingly subjugating them to the CREAM Dream. These poets hang on the capitalist decree of pay me. And for what??? Some nickle and dime Hip Hop Hogwash that they swear is the "shiznit". Listen closely to this: they mama, that café crew, them wordnik (stolen from beatnik) friends, those open mic night thought that it sound right audiences, none of'em, or any of'em, or even many of them will be filling up their pockets for their poetry.
They will sell them on you being the Kobe Bryant of wordsmithing. (OK, I know what I just did, but before this Kobe made sense, except for that whole marriage thing...ANYWAY) Trust me, there are a lot of awesome poets out here, that some people really think that you are just as good. But that is only because they have not taken the time to learn what is truly good poetry, or maybe they simple don't read outside of your own scribble.
Message to writers:
Put it out there, someone else besides that hack publisher of yours might read it. And it just start a fire... |
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