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Re: [Phys-L] E-mail is copyrighted?



Yes, I would think so, in the same sense that (technically) you own copyright in a letter that you write - the composition is your intellectual property. My understanding is that one automatically owns copyright in one's writing unless one assigns it elsewhere, but that if you wish to protect copyright it is sensible to use the copyright symbol (c) and add your name and date. I don't think this enhances the copyright itself, but makes it difficult for someone else to claim the could not identify the copyright holder as a defence. (I am not a lawyer, this is my understanding, and it may only apply in the UK?)

(Presumably somewhere in all the legal jargon when singing up for a ISP, you assign them rights to redistribute your email compositions? Any one know?)

Publishers often used to ask you to 'assign' copyright in published work, but nowadays they commonly ask instead for you to offer them an exclusive licence for certain purposes (so you retain copyright in your work). I'm not sure the precise reasons why?

Bernard: I think the thing to bear in mind is that copyright is a right automatically assigned to the composer of a text or similar production. A teacher - or researcher - cannot (i.e. certainly should not) publish students' work (for whatever reasons) without the their (and their parents', as minors) permission as the work is copyright simply by being the creative production of a human being - not because they are a famous author or similar. Copyright is not just about work intended for publication, but is a right associated a person's productions - whoever they are, and for whatever purpose they produce it. So, if you wrote embarrassing love letters many years ago, be reassured they are covered by copyright! So are copies of any drafts of papers you latter changed before submitting to publication. I suspect is may also apply to your shopping lists, if inscribed.

At least, that's how I've always understood it - correction from legal expertise welcome.

Keith



On 22/07/2012 08:18, Bernard Cleyet wrote:
So a friend claims. Really?


bc thinks Jack U. will know
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