Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 01:46:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: dicconf <dicconf at radix.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Capclave
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

On Tue, 19 Oct 2004, Jim Kling wrote:

> Monday, October 18, 2004, 11:07:52 PM, WSFA members wrote:
>
> > No author wishes his work in the public domain.  To be copyrighted, a work
> > must have a declaration of copyright ("copyright 20-- [name]")
>
> No, it doesn't. According to the US Copyright Office: "Copyright is secured automatically when the work is
> created, and a work is "created" when it is fixed in a copy or phonorecord for the first time." A declaration
> of copyright certainly is not required.

This, acto Jack Speer, is so-called "common law copyright" and reflects
the position that a man's work is zis property to do with as ze wills.  If
the work is published and distributed, then Ted's requirement applies
unless the author actually wishes to place zis work in public domain (as
some do).

> > , and it used to be required that copies be registered with the copyright office, but for now the
> > declaration alone is sufficient.   Republication without including the prior copyright notice is a violation
> > of that copyright.
>
> I don't see how. See above.

Distribution to anybody who wants a copy without this procedure PD's it.
Curiously, distribution to a definite limited list -- all members of FAPA,
or of WSFA, or for that matter of CapClave -- does not.

-- Dick Eney