Copyright Law Question on Recipes

[lindiane]

I am wanting to start a website with old and new recipes, free to anyone. I was wondering are recipes copyrighted or are they public domain? Do I need to write to each publisher of each cookbook, I post a recipe from, and ask permission to post a recipe from their book? I just don't want to get in trouble and want to make sure I do everything right. Thanks for all your help.

 

[HomeGuru]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lindiane:
I am wanting to start a website with old and new recipes, free to anyone. I was wondering are recipes copyrighted or are they public domain? Do I need to write to each publisher of each cookbook, I post a recipe from, and ask permission to post a recipe from their book? I just don't want to get in trouble and want to make sure I do everything right. Thanks for all your help. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Look at the front pages of the cookbooks. See the copyright notices. That is your answer. Don't want nobody stealing my secret recipe for those finger lickin good 11 herbs and spices Kentucky Fried Crawfish.
Actually most of the secret recipes or reasonable fascimiles have been available for years through mail order and now internet.
You are doing the right thing by asking.

 

[lindiane]

Thanks a bunch!

 

[lindiane]

Is there anytime a recipe would be considered public domain? For instance if it was on a label or back of a box, in a magazine? I saw on one web site a discussion about someone stating all the recipes on their site were copyrighted by the owner of the site. Someone evidently wrote in stating they cannot copyright a recipe it is considered public domain. The web-site owner wrote back stating they knew they couldn't copyright the recipe, only the content of the website, her orginal writings, etc... Because if you had to have approval of every recipe on every site, there would be no sites for recipes. This is why I'm confused. My mother (family law 101) stated she thought as long as it was in a library it was considered public domain. But you know how kids never believe their parents know what they are talking about, is why I ask.