Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Part II: Copyright Or Don't Copy At All.

To Copyright More Or Tu Copy Right Less?

(Part II of this Blog series about copyright restrictions.)




Are Copyright Restrictions More Restrictive?

I did my own personal research using the books in my
'ho-mah lī-brair-ry'.

I noticed changing copyright information and restrictions.

In a book by A. Haley and Mr. M. X, printed (I think) around 1964, the book's copyright information mentions the rights of the publisher, reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Other than publishing information [published by a division of Random House Inc], the only other information mentioned was about the cover of the paperback book...for some reason, if the book did not have a front cover, than according to the print, the sale of the book may have been unauthorized.

It is implied that a coverless book may have been reported as damaged...with neither the author, not the publisher receiving payments for the 'damaged but sold' book.

I remember working in an Independent Bookstore.
The manager instructed volunteers to remove the cover of the unsold magazines or journals.
I was told the publishing company did not want to pay for the return of the unsold magazines, (think weight), yet the publishers wanted to know the total count of the unsold magazines...the manager was suppose to (I believe) resend the magazine covers of the unsold magazines back.

Since people (especially book-lovers) spent hours looking through the magazines, I doubt stealing was what the average person, with hours 'to kill,' was planning.

Volunteer bookstores (that I have worked in) are closer to a 'commie library' than a real bookstore with books to sale, profits to make and people to keep employed.

[ BTW - By the way, I never sold a damaged and month old magazine to any person.]

In a book pulished, I think, around 1982, the copyright information is scant. It had the same 1 sentence I read before (in the book published around 1964). The Authors and Publishers rights are reserved. This information was followed by publisher information.

The Publisher's Note included  information I had read before when watching a film or movie...

  This [media] is a work of Fiction...
The Publisher stresses the imaginative work of the writer or creator in creating names, interesting characters, or imaginary places.
The Publisher's Note I read, left the impression that any similarities the fictional work may have to actual people, events or locations are coincidental.

In the inside of a book printed around 2003, by T. Morrison, the same one sentence message is reprinted...Authors and Publishers rights are reserved.

In a book printed around 2000, the publication states that the publication may not be:

- reproduced (no part)
- saved
  or
- sent
  (not electronically, not by photocopying, nor audio recordings or  scanning.)

Except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the States Copyright Act or, after having obtained permission, or by other authorized method of authorization.

A pamplet at one community college warns students and other readers to be cautious... although allowed to use the photocopying equipment, they should be careful of violating the authors copyright protected material.

Warning are helpful.

Although still in the dark, I am a bit better informed. The gothic literary Collection that shocked me when I read it's copyright restrictions,  does provide instructions for citing Gothic Literature.

The series seems to acknowledge students who quote directly from their publications and gives students a generic format for citation in the footnote section.

Although I don't know how to cite written work when posting a Blog, or what ri-printed criticism is, I feel better about my gothic literary experiences.


11-0-1-11




Sunday, April 1, 2012

Copyright Or Don't Copy At All

Is it my imagination, or has copyright restrictions gotten stricter?

At my local community college, while browsing around the Gothic Literature books, I discovered information that gave me a shock!


Technically, I was not allowed to make photocopies of the material from the Gothic Literature books.

Paraphrasing from a similar copyright section, found in the beginning of a book

...No part of this publication may be reproduced, saved in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or through any means, whether electronic, mechanical, or by photocopying, audio recording or scanning, except as permitted under sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act...


This is shocking! Am I allowed to quote from the Gothic Literature books, a multi-volume set found in the Reference section of the library, at the community college?

Uninformed students (or older book-readers) may believe they have the natural rights, when gathering information, to photocopy book pages if photocopying will help them organize their notes for research or "academic" papers.

These consideration being put temporarily aside, I hope to answer my questions in this blog.

* Are the copyright restrictions more ri-strictive now, and if so, are there reasonable reasons for greater restrictions?

* What does Section 107 and Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act say?

* Are greater copyright restrictions a response to changing technology and Internet piracy?


Is the underlying message (sent by book and film makers and publishers) : Don't copy at all.


Authors note:
This Blog Article can be read at blogger.com under 'The Vamp Challenge'.
Feel free to respond (comment in the comment section).
Do not copy this article, unless you properly attribute your sources.
Individual research can be attributed to oneself.