For writers…

Copyrights vs. Rights…

That is alway an ‘issue’, especially for new writers and folks that don’t do their homework.

I’ve been following Writer Beware since I found them in 2018. Mrs. Strauss obviously knows what she is talking about, and does a LOT of research into the posts she makes.

Copyright, literally, is “the right to copy.” It guarantees the authors of creative works–including books,  artworks, films, recordings, and photographs–the exclusive right to allow others to copy and distribute the work, by whatever means and in whatever media currently exist. It also prohibits copying and distributing without the author’s permission, and includes moral rights: the right of attribution (the right to be named as the creator of the work) and the right of integrity (the right to control changes to the work).

Full article, HERE from Writer Beware!

And if you’re not following that blog, you should be!

Comments

For writers… — 6 Comments

  1. No mention made of getting a qualified IP lawyer to review a contract, and explain your rights, your obligations, and any pitfalls that require addressing. Odd, that.

    • It can be hard to find a local IP lawyer, and some publishers don’t allow you to have an IP lawyer make changes (I had one of those. My IP lawyer made a list of problems, we went through, and decided that fulfilling a third-party contract was more important than trying to fight the contract’s terms.)

  2. I was a bit annoyed that they completely ignored my lawsuit, but then EVERY single IP and legal Writing youtuber and website ignored the entire thing. The only ‘major’ site that actually mentioned it was File 770, surprisingly.
    It shows a certain amount of… I don’t know but I don’t want to call it cluelessness (there was obviously something ELSE going on that I don’t want to try and call out) that when the biggest ebook/IP lawsuit in the history of the country takes place and all of these IP and Legal experts IGNORE talking about it, during, before, or even after (and don’t get me started on those little shits at the ‘Author’s Guild’!) that makes you wonder just what the hell is going on in these people’s heads.

    Oh, and a note: The Berne Convention is NOT honored by Canada. If you’re worried about Copyright in Canada, you should probably register your copyrights there as well. (yes, they signed it but NO they do not enforce or honor it).

  3. I’ve had photos stolen and posted on other people’s websites. It’s frustrating. I remember someone saying that if it’s on the internet, “it’s fair game”. No – it most certainly is not. Thanks for posting this.

  4. “Can’t we all just get along?” Evidently not. Sigh.