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The combined numbers are getting more popular. I used to work copyrights
and trademarks in the 80s, but I may be out of date. At that time, the
law said that you could not copyright information before it was
published, so if you were using one date, it should say "2010," because
not all of the information covered in the document was written in 2009.
I don't think there is anything wrong with saying 2009-2010, though, to
cover all the content of the document.
Kay Robart
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+kay -dot- robart=tea -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+kay -dot- robart=tea -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of McLauchlan, Kevin
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:05 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Two questions about Copyright notices
1) If your document is created and published in 2009,
but then gets majorly revised in 2010 (more than half
the content changes), does your copyright notice say
"Copyright 2010" or "Copyright 2009-2010"?
For part-numbering purposes, assume that it's -002 of
the part, where last year it was <number>-001.
2) If you write a booklet, that has a contents part
number (for what you write) as well as a FINISHED-part
number for guts-plus-cover, but some other group
creates the cover art, and tracks the artwork file
by their own part number, what number should the
cover of the booklet carry, and ... I suppose... see
question "1)" about copyright notice ?
According to me, the customer sees the finished document
(which is a printed Quick Start Guide that _includes_ the
cover) and therefore should see an assembly part number
that identifies the complete booklet, cover and contents
combined. If it's necessary to also show numbers for the
component bits, then those should be in smaller type and
should _say_ "Cover art is part number 007-00xxxxx-001,
and is copyright MyCorp, Inc., 2009".
"This Quick Start Guide is part number 908-00yyyy-002,
and is copyright MyCorp, Inc., 2009-2010"
The actual issue is that, since those other guys
create/control the cover art, they are the ones who
would need persuading to show the combined, assembly
part number, rather than (or bigger than?) their
artwork-specific part number, which doesn't logistically
include my booklet-guts that will be inside.
We also want to avoid confusing the people who print
the separate bits, assemble/saddle-stitch them, and
pack 'em with the product.
Do others have a similar flow, and how is it addressed
at your company (and your company's contract manufacturer)?
By way of some instant "research" on the topic:
My new Classrooms In a Book from Adobe don't have any
separate part numbers visible, just a single (bar-coded)
number that I assume is for the fully-assembled book...
probably even including the CD tucked in the back...
Kevin McLauchlan
Senior Technical Writer
SafeNet, Inc.
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