RE: [DML] Is EVERYTHING copyrighted? (was: Battery Straps)

["Mike & Ann Griese" <roscsyl@xxxx>]

Tom Niemczewski wrote:

>I don't understand this 'copyright' stuff. Is DOA crazy or something?<

All written works are copyrighted by the mere fact that they are written
down. Some written works have registered copyrights, which means that the
holder of the copyright has taken the extra step of filling out some forms
and sending a copy of the work to the copyright office. Violators of
registered copywritten material can and often are sued because it is
relatively easy to show that a work is copied or derivative. It's a little
harder to sue in the case of an unregistered copyright unless the theft is
obvious, which in the case of a drawing, is straightforward. The easiest
way around this is to ask permission of the owner of the material and to
add a statement of attribution to the copy.

Think of it this way. Without copyrights, I could start a new organization
called DeLorean Association of Owners with a magazine called DeLorean
Planet.
The entire content could be DeLorean World with a new cover.

Mike Griese
3335 County Road 15 SW
Byron, MN 55920
(507)281-1899