[Hallicrafters] Re Reprinting Posters Etc.

Tue Feb 12 21:41:51 EST 2002

Glen, 	

Well said. Thank you for the factual information from a voice with real
experience.	

I had Ziff-Davis Inc. also buy the article rights. They had the agreement
printed right on the back of the check. If you signed the check to cash it, you
signed the agreement. I made several photocopies before and after I signed the
check as a personal keepsake!	

I should have been more specific when I said "expensive to copyright". Which is
a relative term that can vary greatly among states, procedures and in individual
perceptions of the term itself.	

Thanks Glen.	

Duane Fischer, W8DBF

----------
From: Glen Zook <gzook at yahoo.com>
To: Duane Fischer, W8DBF <dfischer at usol.com>; hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Re Reprinting Posters Etc.
Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 7:48 PM

I agree with most of what you are saying.  However, it
is NOT costly to copyright material.  In fact, under
United States Copyright Law, which conforms to the
Berne Convention, the material is automatically
copyrighted when it is intitially prepared.  This
includes written and photographic materials.

If you wish to "register" your material, which may, or
may not, afford any additional protection, you can
place all of your material into a single "volume" with
a title like "the works of so-and-so for 1999" (or put
everything that you have ever written into the
volume).  Only one fairly minimum payment is needed to
accompany this.  By doing a complete "volume", you
have only one payment due, and that is the same
regardless of the number of individual articles within
the "volume".  From "time-to-time" you can register
additional volumes.

I have had well over 1000 published articles,
newspaper columns, books, etc., since 1961 when I sold
my first article to 73 Magazine.  I definitely am one
who is in favor of the copyright laws.

Also, depending on various circumstances in terms of
dates, etc., the maximum length of a copyright is 75
years from its date of inception.  That is the length
of time that is now placed on all new materials. 
Items published before the "new" laws had varying
times for the copyright.  However, those could be
"renewed" for a period not to exceed 75 years from the
original conception.  Once the 75 years has passed,
then the material is placed into the "public domain"
and is "fair game" for anyone to reprint the material.

Most magazines (but not all of them, QST is probably
the major exception) buy first time publication
rights.  Sometimes they also buy a one-time reprint
right.  QST for many years did NOT pay their authors
anything!  The ARRL took control of the copyright and
effectively kept their authors from ever getting
anything (except for a "certificate" that was awarded
to the "best" article of the month).  Finally, several
years ago, when the majority of amateurs finally got
"wise", the ARRL started paying for the articles.

I know that, from time to time, I get requests
forwarded from the various magazines from individual
amateurs wanting to republish what I have written.  It
depends on what it is for as to whether or not I give
my permission.  If someone is going to make any money
off of it, then I insist on a "piece of the pie"! 
Sometimes I do give permission to reprint providing
that no editing is done, I get full recognition as the
author, I get copies of the publication, etc.  This is
done when the organization asking is definitely
non-profit.

Also, I have given permission for the presentation
that I do on lightning protection and grounding
(including r.f. grounding) that was taped at a local
college in the Dallas, Texas, area, to be copied and
made available to other colleges and universities on
an "as need" basis.

There is a definite difference between "trademark"
registration and the "local" name registration
(usually called a "DBA" - doing business as) that
protects the name in only a single county.  If you
actually incorporate the business, then your business
name is protected within that particular state.  A
trademark gives protection for at least an entire
country.

There is a paper back book available from the
Government Printing Office that has the complete
wording of the copyright law including any ammendments
that are made over the years.  I definitely suggest
getting a copy of this if you are really interested in
the subject of copyrights.

Glen, K9STH

--- "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <dfischer at usol.com> wrote:

It is expensive to go through the copyright procedure
and equally costly to enforce it once it is secured.

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----------
From: Glen Zook <gzook at yahoo.com>
To: Duane Fischer, W8DBF <dfischer at usol.com>; hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] Re Reprinting Posters Etc.
Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 7:48 PM