Ask Dr. Copyright

Dear Dr. ©: A friend of mine said that I can copyright the songs that I write by sending them to myself using registered mail.  That sounds easy.  So, what’s the scoop? Sincerely, Musically Uninformed Dear MU: Your friend has perpetuated one of the oldest “urban myths” (apart from that one about alligators in the […]

Dear Dr. ©: My church wants to host a movie night for the kids, where we show a Disney film, serve popcorn, and promote fellowship among the parents.  One of the parents has a DVD copy of the movie, and we own a projector and screen.  Everybody says not to worry about copyright.  If we […]

Dear Dr. ©: I’d like to make a donation to a charity, such as my college.  I have some copyrights.  May I donate them and take a tax deduction? Sincerely, Copyright Cheapskate Dear Cheap: First, the answer is Yes, you may donate a copyright to your college.  Since copyrights last a very long time (if […]

Dear Dr. ©: In old movies, the newsboys (newsyoungpersons now?) are always standing in the street (don’t their parents know that they could be hit by a horsecart?) yelling, “Extree! Extree! Read All About It!” and waving some yellow rag in the air.  I remember hearing that facts in news stories can’t be copyrighted, but that […]

Dear Dr. C: I want to publish and sell a line of postcards.  I think that I am a pretty decent photographer, and I travel a lot, so most of the pictures will be photos that I have taken on my travels.   Is all of this legal? Signed, Shutter Bug Dear Ms. Bug: As with […]

Dear Dr. C: I used Google’s image search and found a really great photo that I saved. It does not have a © notice on it. Now I want to use it on my web site. I may also have done the same thing a “few” times before. Is that OK? — Anonymous (for obvious […]

Dear Dr. Copyright: Is plagiarism the same as copyright infringement? — Sir I. Newton, F.R.S. Dear Sir Isaac: No, plagiarism and copyright infringement are different, and not always in equal and opposite ways at all times and all places.  Now that I have you completely confused, let me explain… Plagiarism is an infraction that is […]