Copyright Notice Explanation
Since no one has asked me about the tiny, hopefully unobtrusive copyright notice I've started placing at the bottom of each entry, I figured I'd post a quick explanation.
Very simply, I've discovered that there's been some blogs out there that are automatically copying posts from other people's blogs verbatim, without attribution. This is mostly happening in cases where the blogs are "quoting" fiction posted on the web, but it's also happening with regular posts.
Since LJ has RSS syndication of whole posts without the option to syndicate only a teaser, I've decided that I need to add that little bit of protection to each post of mine. Although I do lay out a whole copyright notice on my actual journal page, given RSS and F-lists people rarely bother to visit it. Hence the tiny notice I'm now placing at the bottom of each entry.
As for the notice on my front page, it currently reads, "Note that all content is copyright Michael A. Burstein. You may syndicate or quote entries on the web as long as you include attribution, but all hard copy rights are reserved. "
Copyright © Michael Burstein
Very simply, I've discovered that there's been some blogs out there that are automatically copying posts from other people's blogs verbatim, without attribution. This is mostly happening in cases where the blogs are "quoting" fiction posted on the web, but it's also happening with regular posts.
Since LJ has RSS syndication of whole posts without the option to syndicate only a teaser, I've decided that I need to add that little bit of protection to each post of mine. Although I do lay out a whole copyright notice on my actual journal page, given RSS and F-lists people rarely bother to visit it. Hence the tiny notice I'm now placing at the bottom of each entry.
As for the notice on my front page, it currently reads, "Note that all content is copyright Michael A. Burstein. You may syndicate or quote entries on the web as long as you include attribution, but all hard copy rights are reserved. "
Copyright © Michael Burstein
But if we had asked, you would have been close-mouthed? :-)
(BTW, the last time I researched international copyright law, to fully protect yourself you'd need to include the year and the sentence "All rights reserved." American copyright law, of course, doesn't even require a formal copyright notice any more.)
I'll see what else I might want to add.
Ah, good point. (I, too, was thinking it unnecessary but perhaps smart anyway.)
M
How would you find out if somebody had been doing that to your entries? (Not that I write anything anybody would find worth stealing.) I just don't know how you'd ever catch somebody doing that.
This isn't a perfect enforcement mechanism by any means. But when someone becomes well-known enough to be found by plagiarists, I would guess they're posting frequently on a particular topic, like baseball or writing. Eventually, those who track down blogs on such subjects may end up noticing the overlap and notifying the victim. It's another tool, at least, and it looks as though every tool will be needed in this particular conflict.
By the way, Michael: I actually was gonna ask, if that's any comfort! But it seemed such an off-topic question to ask in the affected posts, and I didn't want to pester you if I just needed to check for any entries I might have missed first ... and this way you got a whole new posting out of it! :>
However, I didn't wonder why it was there, as I remembered your copyright notice on your userinfo page. Mostly, I figured I had been previously unobservant.