Re: Copywriting

From: unkydave@shumv1.uucp (David Bank)

Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1990 17:26:12 +0000

In article <90039.114604JJK106@PSUVM.BITNET> JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu (jeff kochosky) writes:
>
>    I recently finished writing the rules for a game, and I wish to get them
>copywritten so once I develop it for whatever means of play (either computer
>or board), I can try to market it or sell it to a game company without
>worring about my idea being taken from me.  Does anyone have any information
>about how I would go about copywriting the rules, or if that is even possible.
>To make it easy to all you millions of people just waiting to reply to this,
>just post your responses to the net... I'm an avid reader (ok, so I'm bored
>a lot at work... who isn't?)  Thanks for the help, if I get any... and for the
>time if I don't.
>-------
>*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
>o                       o "If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that   o
>*     Jeff Kochosky     *  I am gone... you can hear the whistle blow a       *
>o (JJK106@PSUVM.BITNET) o  hundred miles..."                                  o
>*                       *      - "Five Hundred Miles" by The Hooters/PP&M     *
>o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o
>*    Disclaimer:  These aren't my opinions... someone else left them here.    *
>o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o

Hey, no problem, We're about to copyright a program that we've
written (has nothing to do with RPGs) so I have a few facts handy.

First, a bit of history. The legal idea of a "copyright" dates back
to the Statute of Anne about 400 or so years ago (very rough dating).
History class over. :-)

Next, once you set down something original on a lasting medium
(paper, computer disk, anything that allows multiple retrivals without
alteration) you have a copyright. Period. End of sentence.

So...why register it with the US Copyright Office?? Doing so gives
you legally admissible records regarding the content of your copyrighted
material and establishes an effective date of the copyright. It also
makes it MUCH easier to collect damages (to the tune of $50,000
PER INFRINGEMENT) should your copyright ever be violated.

To copyright something, send a copy of it (or the first and last
25 pages of source for a computer program) to the US Copyright Office
with the appropriate fee and forms. What the fee?? Depends on the
material, I believe. Usually under $50, and well worth it at that.
Forms?? Contact the US Copyright Office -- again, probably depends
on the exact material you are copyrighting (example - computer programs
probably, of necessity, require different paperwork than books).

What do you get if you seal a copy of your material in an envelope
and mail it to yourself?? Legally inadmissible records and an
unnecessary burdening of the Postal System. This is a common fallacy.
The postmark only proves when the envelope went thru the mail system.
It says nothing regarding the contents.

Copyrighted materials are available for public display, but
they cannot be copied or photographed or otherwise reproduced at
the Copyright Office.

What does a copyright give you?? 5 rights, exclusive to you
the copyright holder -- any or all of which you can sell. They are,
best that I can remember right off:

1) Exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work
      2) Exclusive right to create derivative works
      3) Exclusive right to sell the work or its derivatives to
         the public (first sale only - nothing prevents or
         regulates sales of the works thereafter - except in
         a very, very few limited cases)
      4) Exclusive right to perform the work in public
         (primarily concerns plays the music)
      5) Darn it...I forgot. I'll have to look this one up but
         I don't recall it was all that important or earthshattering.

Anyway, that's most of the information I have and all that I can
recall right now. Any good lawyer will be able to give you more
and more detailed information -- for a price, of course.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer nor do I play one in an RPG.

DISCLAIMER: The above message constitutes an honest effort by the
            author to impart information he knows or reasonably
            knows to be true. All other interpretations are
            erroneous. Flames will be ignores. Contructive or
            corrective criticism offered in a rational & mature
            manner will be given undivided attention.

Unky Dave
unkydave@shumv1.ncsu.edu
(aka DAVE THE DM)

References

Copywriting
JJK106@psuvm.psu.edu (jeff kochosky)
Thu, 08 Feb 1990 16:46:04 +0000