Bjarte Runderheim wrote:
"WillR" skrev i melding
. ..


Copyright can be established by creating the work, "publishing" the
work, or registering the work with a copyright office is simply an
affirmation. As you point out later this may not be as easy as it looks
or seems. :-)


Laws on copyright differ in different countries, and the american version is
probably the most legalized there is.

In Norway copyright is established simply by creating a piece of work,
no matter what kind, as long as it is.

Now, that may seem a bit simplistic to the american mind, but in fact it
works quite well. If you feel used by someone, by way of plagiarism or
otherwise, you first go to established organisations which deal with such
matters, if there is no help, you sue.

Nobody will sue anybody over a 25cm platter of traditional form, no matter
how dear it is to your heart, and how many you already have sold: It is too
much
like something that anybody could come up with, and no court i Norway
would consequently grant you "first right".

To get compensation from "knockers off" you need to prove your originality
beyond reasonable doubt.




Not true. Simply creating a work creates a copyright. Copyrighting a
style or form -- now that might be a challenge. Copyright is quite
specific. You raise two quite different issues here. 1. copying; 2. In
the style of...



Like I said, creating creates copyright.
But: My point is that claiming copyright to any form or article is a bit
selfdefeating, or should be.

Well.... it is or it isn't. LOL

I feel that many "artists" claim copyright and damages on a basis that
is too flimsy with respect to the historical overwiew, and use the
laws on copyright to run a lot of cases on plagiarism where no such
thing is either intended or real.

Agreed - could happen. We have seen more cases here of artists
exercising their "moral rights" probably.

Any woodturner must have the right to go through the classical forms and
techniqes without being afraid of stepping on anybodys toes.

Agreed....

All forms must be legal prey for the trainnee or experience-seeking
woodturner, without being accused of anything:
Namely: As long as he signs his things with his own signature, and in
cases where the original idea is clearly derived from someone else,
giving credit for the idea to whom the credit is due.

Agreed -- but even as you stated the offense would be in the mind of the
beholder.

Nobody should be brought to court for wanting to practice and learn.

Agreed. But then maybe they should never show their copied work to
"outsiders". ...Or as you said actually identify the piece with the
original authors name and your name and identify the purpose of the piece.

Bjarte



Bjarte:

It seems that you and I agree.

I am in Canada, we are signatories to the same treaties as your country,
and our laws are similar for that reason.

And the methods of redress are the same -- again because our countries
are signatories to the same treaties.

The USA are signatories to the same treaties.


--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek