From: mark@trillian.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Manning)
Subject: Copyrights.  Part 1
Organization: Simulacron I
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 14:41:48 GMT

Due to the NUMEROUS times this comes up, I am posting three articles
about copyrights, notaries, and patents.  This is the copyright part.

====================================================================

I posted (a while back) a whole diatribe on copyrighting, what you
do get, and what you don't get.  Without all of the emotional input
I made in that last post (because of all of the old wives tales about
how to copyright something) I'll post again what you have to do.  Also,
I'll save this off so I can simply send it every time this comes up.
Nothing against you or anyone else who asks about this.  It is a fairly
hot topic.  But I get kind of tired of repeating myself.  Anyway...


Copyrights.  The DOs and DON'Ts.

1.	What Copyrighting software gives to you.

	A.	Copyrighting software protects your investment for the life of the
		author PLUS 17 years after his/her death.
	B.	Copyrighting gives you, the owner of the copyright, the ability to
		say you thought of the idea first.
	C.	Most importantly, a copyright gives you a registered piece of paper
		which says that the government has checked out the validity of your
		claim and also says that you had the idea first.

2.	What Copyrighting does NOT give you.

	A.	It does not REALLY mean you had the idea first.  Why?  Because the
		government is so overburdened with the number of copyrights pending
		that they do a level one scan.  Or, in other words they check those
		things which are close to what your work is like but don't do a
		really good job of it.  Thus, you may have copyrighted something
		someone else has already done.  Which is why we have lawsuits.

	B.	It does not mean that someone else isn't already using or won't use
		your idea, it simply means you registered it.  It is left up to the
		owner of the copyright to protect his rights to whatever has been
		copyrighted.  The government won't do it for you.

3.	How TO copyright an idea.

	A.	Call your local FICA office -or- talk to your local operator and explain
		what you are looking for.
	B.	Once in touch with your local Federal Information Commission of America
		office, ask them to send you the forms to copyright a non-literary work
		of art.  This is the technical term for a computer program.
	C.	Be sure to ask for several of the forms.  Why?  Because major upgrades
		have to be copyrighted also and the same form is used whether it is for
		an initial request for copyright or as an alteration to the original
		copyright.
	D.	Send in the copyright.  It shouldn't cost more than $20.00.
	E.	Wait three to six months.
	F.	Enjoy your copyright.

4.	How to NOT copyright an idea.

	A.	Mail yourself a sealed envelope.  This is a stupid thing to do.  First off,
		the envelope could be steamed open, the contents changed, and resealed.
		Secondly, the courts do not deem a sealed envelope to be adequate evidence
		in a court of law.  All you will do is to screw yourself out of a perfectly
		good copyright.
	B.	Use the copyright symbol, but never register the copyright.  This is about as
		bright as a moonless night.  Without the paperwork to back up your claim, you
		can use the copyright sign all you want.  You'll still loose in court.
	C.	Saying "This software is copyrighted" one million times.  This is just to show
		you how down right dumb people can be.  You can't wave a magic wand, have a
		puff of smoke, and say your software is copyrighted.  Courts deal in facts.
		Facts which can not be shaken.  So if you don't get that piece of paper you
		don't have a leg to stand on in court.  It works the same way with everything
		in this world.  You buy something - the store gives you a receipt to show that
		you paid for it.  You pay off your car and you are given the title to that car.
		Why do you think copyrights are any different?  They aren't.

5.	Copyright notes.

	A.	The only person you are hurting is yourself if you don't copyright your work.
	B.	The only person who will gain by your stupidity is the guy down the block
		who IS going to hear about your idea, write a program which does a similar
		thing, and who is going to get filthy rich while you cry in your beard.
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