Re: The Eric Eldred Act

Re: The Eric Eldred ActWhat you say about making copies of buildings was true prior to enactment of the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act of 1990 which created a new category of protected subject matter - "architectural works" in Title 17 U.S.C.102(a) (8)

• Original Message ----- From: Susan Aker To: Multiple recipients of list Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 10:42 AM Subject: Re: The Eric Eldred Act

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  I purchase a house from the builder. Even though he did all the hard work of building it, getting all the different materials put together, making the whole thing work, once I have closed on the purchase, it is mine and he has no rights to it whatsoever. If I want to build an identical house on the other side of my property, I don't have to go to the original builder, I don't even need the original blueprints. I can have an expert come in, take notes on all the pertinent information and draw up a set of blue prints. It probably won't be an identical copy, but it will look like an identical copy. Even if the original blueprints have their own copyright, I have done nothing illegal here by creating my own copy for my own use. I can then have my property split and can legally sell the copy of my house. Try to apply that to copyright.   Susan Aker

• Original Message ----- From: Linda Gruber To: Multiple recipients of list Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 12:23 PM Subject: Re: The Eric Eldred Act