Copyright question

Zoom Rabbit · 07-15-2003, 07:19 PM

My question concerns the copywriting of material posted in the forums. I have a short story that I would like to post in one of the forums, which is currently unpublished. Now...I do plan to publish it some time in the future. If I post the story here at Lucasforums first, would I lose the copyright to my own material?

Thank you for your time.

STTCT · 07-15-2003, 07:30 PM

I wouldn't risk it....you never know. People steal all kinds of things off of the net.

Ray Jones · 07-15-2003, 07:41 PM

it's not like you're gonna post ENDLESS posts of your brainwashing gibberish, eh?

no one will ever read it nor any buck will be made through it.

DONT trust this man. he only wants to sell his story.

*wispers to zoom: NOW you safely can post it. no one will care or read it.*

Zoom Rabbit · 07-15-2003, 08:21 PM

Well, I'm not really worried about other people plagiarizing off the net. I have the thing copyrighted myself, and could theoretically prove authorship if I'm suing someone for plagiarism. (Copyrighting is easy in the US. All you do is send a chapter of your work to yourself in the mail, and don't open the envelope when it comes back. The postmark is admissible in a court of law.)

I'm wondering if Lucasforums would gain the rights. I understand that they have to have some right to put up what we post here, but I'm not sure if their rights would extend over to me later, when I try to publish it on my own.

See what I'm getting at?

ZBomber · 07-15-2003, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zoom Rabbit
Well, I'm not really worried about other people plagiarizing off the net. I have the thing copyrighted myself, and could theoretically prove authorship if I'm suing someone for plagiarism. (Copyrighting is easy in the US. All you do is send a chapter of your work to yourself in the mail, and don't open the envelope when it comes back. The postmark is admissible in a court of law.)

I'm wondering if Lucasforums would gain the rights. I understand that they have to have some right to put up what we post here, but I'm not sure if their rights would extend over to me later, when I try to publish it on my own.

See what I'm getting at?

*shrugs*

We'll just wait and but it when it comes out.

STTCT · 07-16-2003, 02:45 PM

heh Lucasforums owns j00 and j00's story.

Zoom Rabbit · 07-17-2003, 06:32 AM

So, there aren't any admins or knowledgeable mod types who know the answer to this?

Pity. It's a neat little story...

*mercatfat* · 07-17-2003, 06:37 AM

It's not like you'd actually get published anyway, so go right ahead.

**Redwing** · 07-17-2003, 11:51 PM

Zoomie, why not post a link to your own webspace?

Zoom Rabbit · 07-18-2003, 06:48 AM

Redwing: Why, because I don't *have* a webspace, silly.

Zoomie = stuck in the eighties. I just got a cell phone six months ago...

Mercatfat: Okay, you get one free one.

Ha-ha.

Ray Jones · 07-18-2003, 06:48 AM

i would say .. since you would post it using their service ..
on the other hand .. you are able to edit it anytime .. (not DOWNtime)
..like the mods .. hmmm.
But i dont think LF full gain the rights .. hey it's a forum anybody knows that anybody could write to it ..
it depends on the jugde ..

(btw.. RayJones is not a "admins or knowledgeable mod types who know the answer to this?".. he just has to put his oar in.. )

but i would like to read it .. you're asking so stiffnecked .. i'm interested in it now ..

Post First Page??? ..

Joshi · 07-18-2003, 07:55 AM

The post with the novel on would have the time and the date of when it was posted as well as your name on it. If someone were to steal it, you could just say that it's yours and here's prof, showing the post as well as the date posted (obviously being before someone stole it).

Zoom Rabbit · 07-19-2003, 08:15 AM

Thanks, Neil. That's true...I can always prove authorship. I'll go ahead and do it.

http://www.lucasforums.com/showthrea...hreadid=105981

**Redwing** · 07-20-2003, 06:04 AM

I went through the same mental debate when I was considering joining various LF RPGs using original characters. But since I didn't see anything in the TOS when I registered that said LF would gain the rights to my ideas if I posted them here, I went ahead and did it anyway.

FYI, I hear tell the closed envelope method isn't accepted in courts anymore, due to ease of counterfeiting. I could be wrong however.

Zoom Rabbit · 07-22-2003, 05:52 AM

Then in that case...it's probably a good idea to have this pop up at Lucasforums under my username and IP first! Assuming the great Lucas' mighty corporation would help li'l old me prove authorship rather than usurp my copyright.

*(Takes multiple screenshots, prints them and seals them in a bank safety deposit box with notarized seals and everything.)*