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Subject:RE: Is your documentation copyrighted? From:"Niesa Page" <Niesa_Page -at- stercomm -dot- com> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Wed, 26 Jan 2000 16:31:05 -0600
>>I've watched the copyright thread for the last couple of days, and so far
I'm surprised that no one has pointed out a very obvious reason that a
postmarked, sealed envelope actually proves nothing about the ownership of
the contents . . . Any takers?<<
No, it doesn't PROVE ownership, what it does is prove who OFFICIALLY DOCUMENTED
the thing first.
sure, you and i could have developed the same thing, but if you DOCUMENT yours
first,
then, officially, the idea belongs to you, even if i developed the thing a year
before.
that's all copyrighting does. whoever gets theirs in first, wins. (same
w/patents)
HOWEVER, if you took a thing i developed that is not copyrighted (remember,
though,
a thing is automatically copyrighted the moment it is done), but is in the
public mind,
then you would have a difficult time proving it's yours if your date is 99, but
the public
has known about mine since 98. further, the public does not have to be the whole
world;
it could be the people in your business community, church, etc.
Niesa Page
STERLING COMMERCE GLOBAL CONFERENCE
E-Business Strategies 2000
Secrets of the E-Business Masters
May 8-11, 2000 Orlando, FL USA http://www.sterlingcommerce.com
