Re: Re: Attribution is not required in public domain materials

From: Lars Gaarden <larsg[_at_]eurorights.org>
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 11:43:33 -0400

Joseph Pietro Riolo wrote:
>
> On Wed, 11 Jun 2003, Lars Gaarden <larsg[_at_]eurorights.org> wrote:
>

>>Are we talking past each other? I have no problem with the free flow
>>of ideas. It is verbatim copying with false attribution that I have a
>>problem with.

>
> As long as you own copyright in your works, you have the control
> over attribution. Once your copyright expires, your control over
> attribution also expires (except in France).

And in other countries, especially in Europe, where the ideal rights don't expire at the same time as the rest of the rights in the copyright contract.

> False attribution
> is actionable as long as you own copyright. That is not the main
> concern in this thread of discussion.

Good. :-)

> The question is whether you want attribution whenever a person
> copies the public domain elements from your works whose copyright
> protection are still valid. Say, I read your 100-page report and
> I glean 100 ideas from it (assuming I can find one idea per page).
> Then, I express 100 ideas in my own words (note that there is no
> verbatim copy) without any attribution to your work. Do you have
> problem with that?

No.

Attribution for expressions is a copyright issue.

Attribution for ideas is a moral issue. If I see someone writing a 100-page report with their own expression that mirrors a 100-page report I wrote idea for idea, I would feel that it would have been nice to receive attribution, but I do not feel that the law should make attribution for ideas a requirement.

>>Usually not. However, if I copy a considerable amount of an expression
>>it seems fair to give attribution. The same if a particular person
>>gave me a particular idea or insight that is important.

>
> Does this mean that you want to have the ability to decide whether
> to provide attribution for the ideas without anyone forcing you to
> provide attribution?

I think it should be a moral issue, or an issue of "how things are done" in a particular group or society whether one should provide attribution or not for ideas.

-- 
LarsG

Received on Fri Jun 13 2003 - 19:43:33 GMT