G
Gypsygoddess
Guest
I posted a photo online-what constitutes it's 'date of publication'? Is it really 'published' or 'not'? All of the info I've obtained from the Copyright Office seems to be contradictory.
I called the Copyright Office to ask, and to my surprise, I was told that there is no law on the books to answer that question (yet).
The (conflicting) copyright laws say:
"Publication" is the distribution of copies...of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution or public display constitutes publication...(BUT!)...a public display of a work does not of itself constitute publication.
And:
...it is clear that any form of dissemination in which the material object does not change hands, for example, performances or displays on television, is not a publication no matter how many people are exposed to the work.
So-how do I fill out the Copyright Application where it asks for the 'date of publication'!?
Thanks from NY.
I called the Copyright Office to ask, and to my surprise, I was told that there is no law on the books to answer that question (yet).
The (conflicting) copyright laws say:
"Publication" is the distribution of copies...of a work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending. The offering to distribute copies to a group of persons for purposes of further distribution or public display constitutes publication...(BUT!)...a public display of a work does not of itself constitute publication.
And:
...it is clear that any form of dissemination in which the material object does not change hands, for example, performances or displays on television, is not a publication no matter how many people are exposed to the work.
So-how do I fill out the Copyright Application where it asks for the 'date of publication'!?
Thanks from NY.