Question on liability for falsely asserting copyright pro

>> This is my first post to this list, so forgive me if it is
>> uniformed.

All posts, especially first posts, should be formally attired. ;-)

As to Mr. Brewer's question:

>> I am curious as to whether or not those who falsely assert that they
>> own the copyright to works are in any way liable for that false
>> assertion. Obviously, those who infringe on the copyright of others
>> are liable for damages...

Which would the case if the false assertion were made by, say, A's slapping a copyright notice on the purloined work of B.

>> ...but are those who assert ownership (thus depriving the public of
>> free access to use that material) liable for that?

Why would making that false assertion about a work in the public domain deprive anyone else? A mere assertion doesn't make something so. The assertion wouldn't actually REMOVE the work from the public domain.

IA a writer, NAL.

--DS Received on Fri May 26 2006 - 20:10:50 GMT