P3D Re: copyrights (again!)

[Peter Davis <pd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 09:46 AM 5/13/98 , you wrote:
>>I'd be interested in a scanned version of the original Realist manual; 
>>in fact, if it's in the public domain, I'm surprised it hasn't already 
>>been scanned in. Has Reel 3D gotten the right to photocopy the stereo 
>>camera manuals it sells, or are they all in the public domain?
>
>I don't think camera manuals are copyrighted.  Camera companies sell
>cameras and give instructions for free... Have not seen a copyright
>notice in the manuals... Books of course is a different story...
>The "Realist Manual" is a book.  A hardcover 500 page book.  This is
>what we were talking about.

All original writing (as opposed to transcribing someone else's words) is
automatically copyrighted in the U.S., per current copyright law.  There
are some provisions for "grandfathering" older writings from before this
law took effect sometime in the 1970's, but I don't know the details.
Copyright has NOTHING to do with whether the material is given away free
with a camera or what.  When in doubt, assume that is IS copyrighted material.

-pd

--------
                             Peter Davis
               Funny stuff at http://world.std.com/~pd

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