Sean Brierley asks: If I create art -- vector, photo, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion?
If I author text content -- user manual, whatever -- is it implicitly protected as my work or do I need to obtain an external copyright through some agency? Any sources for that opinion? Hi Sean, The answer to both those questions is "it all depends." If you create original art or text as part of a contract, then the rights to that work depends on what is defined in the contract. In most cases, it would belong to the company you signed the contract with. If you create original art or text on your own, the it is implicitly protected; however, you can gain additional protection by registering your work with the federal government. A good place to start is the U.S. Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov/) . Of course, I can only talk about U.S. law. Other countries have different laws which may or may not conflict with U.S. law. Enforcing a copyright is another matter altogether. Al Geist Technical Writing, Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design and Award Winning Videos Voice/Msg: 802-658-3140 Cell: 802-578-3964 E-mail: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] URL: http://www.geistassociates.com (Online portfolio and resume) See also: URL: http://www.geistimages.com (Fine art photographic prints for home or office and beautiful note cards for all occasions.)ros.com ______________________________________________ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING WEST 07: THE USER EXPERIENCE April 18-21, 2007 ~ Vancouver BC ~ Marriott Pinnacle ~ free city tour 40+ sessions * free workshops * free iPod offer * www.doctrain.com _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
