[Boatanchors] Warning fake TS-530 listing on Ebay

[Glen Zook]

Everything is automatically copyrighted when written, photo taken, and so forth.  This is per the Copyright Law of the United States of America.  There is no need to register the copyright to receive protection.  However, it is somewhat easier to receive "treble damages" (3 times the actual loss in income) if the copyright is registered with the Library of Congress.  Unfortunately, many people believe that when something is available on the Internet that it has been put into public domain and that is definitely not true.

In a practical sense it is usually not worth the cost to take legal action for things like the eBay copy.  But, it is definitely possible to do so.  My eldest daughter is a commercial artist and she has had to defend her copyrights several times from people who have used them on the Internet.  If it is just an individual usually a letter from her threatening to take legal action is enough.  However, when a company uses her work that is a completely different matter.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Fri, 3/6/09, Revcom <revcom at wbsnet.org> wrote:

I hear about this every now and then.  Were the original pixs/description copywrited?  Is the web site secured or open to all?  These question come up all the time, esp with music and art work.
 
Local artist had to resort to "watermarking" his web pictures as were being pirated and sold elsewhere.  Gets into a real problem area if it is an open site with no protection.