my shit poems for assholes

Post by **mccutcheon** » Sun Feb 23, 2003 3:04 pm

So I get this email. all it says is:

Is your poem The Next Leonard Cohen under copywrite cuz id like to use it for my book.

so, I think that is cool but how to respond? Any Pax Acidusers know about publishing rights and all that, even for shitty little poems? I know a bit on how to handle Burnt but that's it.

tashasimone · Post by **tashasimone** » Sun Feb 23, 2003 3:10 pm

i have a friend who knows about copywriting, ill ask next time i see him. Good job Mc- you should be proud, even if its a shite little poem,. someone liked it enough to use it, god job!

rabbit · Post by **rabbit** » Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:26 pm

First off, you should tell him it is under copyright, that way he wont use it. I do not suggest telling him it is not, as some people have no respect for intellectual property.

tashasimone · Post by **tashasimone** » Mon Feb 24, 2003 2:05 am

good point spike

Post by **Sloth** » Mon Feb 24, 2003 2:49 am

Okay as far a copyright goes, here's the rundown...

Everywhere in the civilized world recognizes what's known as automatic copyright without so much as a single legal notification. No person can reprint the work of another person without permission or sell that work without permission. So no worries there.

In the United States, conversely, there must be a copyright notification at the bottom of every original piece. Otherwise you may not be protected! So just write Copyright (c) 2003 McCutcheon on one page of the document and you are also covered in the non-civilized hating bombing part of the world.

How long does copyright last?

Copyright lasts about 72 years after the death of the author. Then the piece goes in the public domain. Disney and other corporations are trying to lengthen this so they can protect their assets.

That's about all there is to it! A single line of copyright notice will save your ass anywhere in the world. There is nothing to register or anything.

What exactly is covered by copyright? Pictures, designs, and even sentences and phrases.

What is not covered? Ideas, oral speech, brainstorming sessions, meeting resolutions, or any writing or publication sponsored by the government and paid for by taxes.

What if someone steals your copywritten shit?

Get this... If you every sue someone for copyright breach... you can only get damages. That means you can't sue someone just because they used your piece and pissed you off. You need to sue for something tangible like lost revenue.

Given the expense of lawyers... people are pretty much free to rip people off as much as possible so long as they never make any money! You can't go to jail for it!

I studied this stuff in depth last year but Martino may have a few gaps to fill in since he's a geezer in the business.

rabbit · Post by **rabbit** » Mon Feb 24, 2003 3:35 am

yeah the trick is making money off of it. frustrating eh?

Post by **mccutcheon** » Mon Feb 24, 2003 1:21 pm

thanks Sloth. I think it's time to update the Pax Acidus copywrite to 2003. but you are saying this whole site is covered right?

Post by **Sloth** » Mon Feb 24, 2003 4:27 pm

I'm on the mf!

martino · Post by **martino** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 12:26 pm

mccutcheon, sorry for the late response. i was in the black forest for a few days with friends and family. (we had great sun and snow but now i am a weazing, sneazing, sniffling whiny wreak...)

i agree to everything ooh says which, as usual, is spot on. here are, as an afterthought, my five eurocents:

i think it is great that somebody wants to publish your poem; you can quote it on your CV.

but make sure the guy is kosher and that other works of literature on his site or book or magazine are up to par.

he asked whether your poem is copyrighted which is the wrong question; obviously just about everything is copyrighted. he should have asked whether you agree to his usage of your poem free of charge.

sure you can agree to that but you must make it clear that your agreement applies to only this one poem. also, he must specify exactly where and for which purpose he will use your poem. in other words, allow him to publish your poem in this one single case but not in eternity.

and make sure he has a real physical identity. a name, an address, a phone number and not just an email adress. call him (or let me call him) to make sure he is not psycho.

in all such cases of copyright feel free to contact me before doing anything else. actually, i request that you do so. thanks.

tashasimone · Post by **tashasimone** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 2:09 pm

wow Mr take charge- thats great.

I talked to my friend and you are both exactly right. He did ask the wrong question, which leads me to believe he probably doesnt know much himself, so be careful, he may be trying to turn it into his poem.

Post by **mccutcheon** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:08 pm

The guy is just a young writer from Canada and he has a book coming out, and he wants to put the poem in the front at the start of the book, you know how when you open a book and before the story starts there are a few phrases from past masters or a Greek God or something, well it's like that. Irvine Welsh once used a quote from Alabama 3 proving once again that guy is super cool. Anyway, I said sure, good luck to him.

Post by **mccutcheon** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:24 pm

And I also said to send me a copy. I know how these things go, very slow, so slow they seem to never happen. But like I said 'good luck' to him, and good karma and luck to me.

Since I posted on the site 'I just finished Burnt Roof of Mouth, now I just have to edit it'- a lot of hours of pain and bleary eyes and cramped fingers passed. I remember back to that day. I was so happy that day. I was high and drinking champagne and almost fell off a balcony in the Evil Heat. Thank goodness I didn’t fall or all I would have left behind was one really shit novel. Tasha this was before your time- over 4 months ago. Well, since that day I have deleted and changed over 25,000 words out of the original 80,000, and I’m still going strong on the rewrite. It has now turned into mini stories within the novel itself, which is actually helping me, as I find myself more witty and concentrated on a small scale.

So it goes slow, it is harder and slower than I ever thought. I have days of elation and days of despair. I have so many thanks to give, from Sloth and I starting this web site, to a girl named Danielle who broke my tender heart and made me write my first short story to show her I had a talent in this world. And of course the so many thanks to the two M’s Martino and Mav who get me through the worst days. Guys I promise by the second novel, which is half way done, I’ll be more composed, unlike this rambling post here.

Post by **mccutcheon** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:27 pm

and Tasha you might not know this either, and anyone else who is confused, Martino is my agent and Mav is the copy editor and CIA spy.

tashasimone · Post by **tashasimone** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:16 pm

well thankyou for clearing that up for me,.

im glad to know you have some gratitude for the things that have come to pass in your life, that is what will in the end make you strong, and maybe even happy. Everyone here seems to support you and your projects, as well as you support all thiers. Im so glad i found you guys.

rabbit · Post by **rabbit** » Tue Feb 25, 2003 4:30 pm

speaking of burnt, didnt you say you would mail me a copy :-D