Creative Commons

[Faub]

http://creativecommons.org/

This was something I stumbled on today through Slashdot (The Kahle vs Ashcroft: Copyright Battle Continues article).

Given the whole comictastic thread with everyone up in arms about their hard work being stolen, this made me wonder what people really think about less restrictive copyrights.

My comic is all rights reserved (stated on every page) because I really don't know what I want to do with it yet. What that means for the reader is that I expect my comic to stay in your cache and get overwritten like every other junk image you download. Don't copy my archives, print them, frame them, etc. Certainly don't sell them and I will burn your house to the ground if you say you made them.

I actually don't feel this way but legally "All rights reserved" means you have to get my permission for everything you do with my work. FAUB is my "invention" and I have given the world the right to view it in a web browser from faub.keenspace.

I really do think it's okay if people were to download my archives and show them to friends. That would be a good thing. I think it would be okay if people printed a few drawings or panels in their magazines without my permission as long as the source was displayed (and maybe if they sent me a copy). That's free advertising. I would mind a little if people printed degenerated (72dpi) comics from my site and handed them out but it's kind of on the edge of "allowable" for me. If they sold the copies, I would have to Jay and Silent Bob them. Again, it's free advertising and I'm the one with the 300dpi originals. Come to me if you want the good stuff.

I posted this stuff on the web because I wanted to shared it with everyone in a way that would avoid the bureacracy and give me some feedback at the same time. So far it's been a raging success.

http://www.emptywords.ca/
Empty Words was a comic that the author released a couple months ago as public domain. I actually thought he was insane, giving too much away too quickly. It's a novel idea really and a good comic. It's released under a creative commons license.

What do you think about the enforceability of this license? A similar licensing scheme (Gnu Public License) is being tested in SCO vrs. IBM (read Slashdot if you don't know that one). SCO has challenged the validity of the GPL but no real resolution has come out of the case yet. (Besides, SCO is making claims that it refuses to back up so whether these claims have any merit at all is almost immaterial.)

Is this something you would even remotely consider or is it a "this comic is mine and will be mine until I die and it will be buried with me" thing for you?

[War]

I don't mind people saving my work, or printing it off for better appreciation of it. I don't mind people using my characters as cameos in other comics, or drawing fanart.
I've had several incidences that have really gotten me riled. First was somebody modifying my work and using it in a forum I hate it when people use and modify my stuff without permission. Luckily I was in a position to have it removed.
Second was someone claiming that they were the creator of my comic. This was also easy to resolve by calling his bluff in front of the forum that he was blagging on.
These are examples of what I don't like. My work is mine, and any credit for it is mine. I don't mind people saving my work to disk, it makes it easier for them to appreciate the comic. I don't mind people printing it off, because my name will still be on it, and I'll still get the credit for it.
With the whole comictastic thing, I don't really made in as such. I don't mind people downloading my comic to their computer. What I don't like is the negative effect it has on my host. I've been very glad of keenspace, I wouldn't have gotten into this whole malarkey without it, so I try to keep Keenspaces interests at heart.

And on making Digital War and its characters public domain...never.
For a start, I am War, and several characters are based on close friends, I wouldn't want other people using them. Besides, it's a labour of love, and I don't think anyone else could do it quite right.

[RPin]

This is a very interesting topic, Faub, though it's a little tricky to pick up an option.

I'm not anal about my copyrights. Recently I just released my sprite templates as copyleft, so kids can make sprite comics without violating any rights from gaming companies. Even [url=http://www.j_world.blogger.com.br]my blog[/url] follows a similar idea of this creative commons. On it, me and another four friends rip each other works, and encourage our readers to do the same. On it you won't find any copyright disclaimers, because I couldn't care less if people take my texts or wallpapers and claim it's theirs (if you decide to check my blog, don't click the links my friend Cal posted - they're pictures of deformed babies).

I'm a bit anal about Comictastic, tho. But it's not entirely because it violates copyright. I believe webcomics can be so much more than just syndicated strips placed on the net (yeah, some people just use the net as repository for their comics, but it doesn't change the fact that some people manage to make a BEAUTIFUL use of the internet media, and I want to be on their level someday). People say comic viewers are the future of webcomics. I say, what's the future in it? It's just a syndication tool. It's nothing different than a newspaper that distributes comics. People say reading comics on their sites is a burden. I say it's a blessing. There I can see what were the artist's impressions on the strip, talk with other readers and the artist himself. It's a dream situation.

Of course that's just me, and there are people who want the convenience of comic rippers. I feel sorry for them.

[Vorticus]

I don't like people profiting, be it money or fame or anything else, from stuff I put on the web for free. Otherwise I'm good. Not that the opinion of a sprite comicer matters hugely in the grand scheme of things.

[RPin]

By the way, I'm reading through this Creative Commons, and it all seems VERY interestng.

I'll probably release the figures we use as avatars in my blog and some other works as public domain as well.

[Dan Nicholls]

In principle, I really like having the option of a 'some rights reserved' protection. However, don't go using it and expecting legal claims at this point. Last I knew, any forfeit of copyright is entire forfeit of copyright.

I think the same thing can be effected, however, by a normal copyright and a right attitude... I mean, fanart and fanfics are entirely legitimate, so long as they attribute their derivative sources, and can be used to foster a sense of community among the fanbase. There is the danger of it being displayed in a way you don't like, which (apart from legit lampoon) I say raise bloody hell over.

[Christwriter]

Well...I think I'd want 'em to ask first before dragging my work through whatever hoops the public wants to.

If someone really pushed me on it, I would say that my comic images, character sketches, and anything not openly public domain would be "all rights reserved", but I would probably let people use them if they ask permission (let me know what you want to do with it, show me where you're going to put it, and I'll let you use it.)

No one can alter my work...I don't trust what people will do, given Photoshop, a paint tool and a sample of red paint.

I would have public stuff...avatars, wallpaper, link banners and such, for free.

If anyone tries to imitate me, they get thier head removed and placed in an area not normally exposed to solar energy. Peroid.

CW

[Sortelli]

I voted for the toughest "It's Mine" part of the poll, kinda surprised that I'm the first. At the end of the day, it's mine, period, and no one should assume that they have the right to take it from me just because they like it and I post it online.

But in <i>practice</i>, I'm totally with the rest of you. I have no problem with people doing stuff like making LJ icons out of EOI if they use them in good faith and credit back to me. If someone likes my stuff and saves it to their computer for their own personal viewing, I'm fine with that. I want people to read my stuff, that's why I put it out. If they share the comic because they like it, they are doing me a favor even if they might be doing it without permission. Anyone who's ever asked has gotten a yes from me.

If a magazine ganked my work without asking, I'd waffle between being enraged and flattered at the exposure. But then again, if the magazine had asked first I'd have said yes in a heartbeat. The only reason I'd not bust every vein in my head is because the magazine would be doing something I also happened to want. The key thing here is that -I- wanted it, and it's up to me. Not them.

Actually, I take it back. My understanding is that a magazine could publish a little bit of something in the context of a review without getting permission. That would be fine--any more than that, such as re-printing comics in their entirety without any permission (or any payment) would be illegal.

My understanding of this creative commons thing is that it's a way of letting people know that they can feel free to use and share things in good faith without needing to ask. I think it's a good way to address the issue by letting people who are okay with their work being shared participate, but I'd hate to not have the protection of being able to reserve all my rights instead of just some of them.

[Grabmygoblin]

my comic is a bit to personal to put in the public domain, but I don't have any objections to people saving strips they like to their computer, printing them off, etc.
I realize that probably makes no sense to anyone, but it does in my mind somehow

[Gage Kronos]

I don't like other people taking credit for things that I've done. Given I haven't started posting comics anywhere except for a few to my LiveJournal and PhotoBucket, I still would be rather upset if I found that people were using it without ASKING me first. Once I do finally get things rolling, I'll probably outline what I will allow on my site. If people turn out to like my work enough to want to do fan art or write fan fiction...I'd most likely let them.

[Somesuch]

If asked, I might allow people to use some of my stuff. However, I'm definitely highly possessive of my comic.

The only things I'd allow are things like having my characters as cameos or making wallpapers or something--and I sincerely doubt anybody will use my comic stuff that way, in any case. Even so, I'd expect to be asked first, and I wouldn't allow anybody to make cash off my stuff.

If I'm forced to end my comic, which is looking likely since I can't do regular updates at all despite all efforts, I may remove all archives. Otherwise, someone might get the brilliant idea that, since I no longer make it, it's become public domain.

[Ratbert]

I'm about as lenient as you can get on these things. I don't give a care who does what in respect to New Traditionalists...use the characters, whatever, as if the characters were really important. The only part of it I really care much about, as though it's mine, is the writing.

Now obviously, if someone claimed to be me, or, worse yet, plagurized my work, I might be a little peeved, but generally, it's not much of a difference. After all, if, say, Penny Arcade stole one of my jokes, and people laughed at it there, well, then I suppose my goal (to make people laugh) is accomplished either way. Plus I'd be flattered.

Of course, if I WAS plagurized, there would be that downside of people accusing YOU of plagurism for the same joke in reverse order. But I'd let the wonders of comic dating take care of that.

[Okie]

All works will enter the public domain 70 years after you die.

Go to the Library of Congress and watch some cartoons:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/oahtml/oachron.html

Centaurs come alive! They have Katzenjammer and Krazy Kat cartoons as well.

When you're done there, go to http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/mdbquery.html and search all the Library of Congress Digital Collections for Handbills, Photo's, Letters written by Famous People, Sheet Music, Cartoons, Film Strips, etc. Gallery Mode ist sehr gut.

Its easy to watch the clips, but its pretty tedious to get readable versions of plays. I found some neat stuff there.

Declaring that you are putting your material in the public domain the day you die may work for the creators of Cerberus, but if you were really successfull... maybe it could get you moidered.

[Okie]

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/manda ... posit.html

Copyrights - MANDATORY DEPOSIT FOR WORKS PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although a copyright registration is not required, the Copyright Act establishes a mandatory deposit requirement for works published in the United States. See the definition of "publication." In general, the owner of copyright or the owner of the exclusive right of publication in the work has a legal obligation to deposit in the Copyright Office, within 3 months of publication in the United States, two copies (or in the case of sound recordings, two phonorecords) for the use of the Library of Congress. Failure to make the deposit can result in fines and other penalties but does not affect copyright protection.

Publication: The reports also state that it is clear that any form of dissemination in which the material object does not change hands, for example, performances or displays on television, is not a publication no matter how many people are exposed to the work. However, when copies or phonorecords are offered for sale or lease to a group of wholesalers, broadcasters, or motion picture theaters, publication does take place if the purpose is further distribution, public performance, or public display.

I believe Webcomics fall under "unpublished," but I'm not 100% sure. How many of you who have printed up books for sale have submitted copies to the Library of Congress?

[Faub]

Copyrights - MANDATORY DEPOSIT FOR WORKS PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES

That's certainly something to think about. This makes it all the more important to get the "right" format before printing. I find it interesting that the deposit is required even if you don't register the copyright but if you register later you're essentially making the deposit again. Better to get the registration out of the way and just pay the $30. Seems like legal extortion to me.

If the required deposit is not made within 3 months of the demand, the person or organization obligated to make the deposit is liable for a fine of not more than $250 for each work plus the retail price of the copies; if the refusal to comply is willful or repeated, an added fine of $2,500 may be incurred.

This must not be a well policed law. It's certainly not something you hear about every day. Most likely the publishing house takes care of this for you so there's nothing to worry about. It could be a big problem for self-publishers, though. Think about all the indy comics out there who have never bothered with this.

On the question of whether webcomics are published, what about sites like Graphic Smash or Keenspot where the artist is being paid but never offered their comics for sale to the distributor?

[Dan Nicholls]

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about them knocking on your door for not sending them the archives on disk sets.

-->However, web content is protected as published work. If they wanted to get technical, one single viewer viewing your page is the distribution of a file containing your work, an exchange of hands with the intent of distribution. One of the beauties of net protocol is that just about all of it is exchange of real files. So, no worries!

Edit: In fact, it is my understanding that web content is considered under copyright the minute it is published to the web, even without a copyright notice (as with print media) unless otherwise noted (which is where I think forfeit of any copyrights means forfeit of all copyrights fits in).

[Mr Ekshin]

That potato chip I dropped on the floor? Mine. Don't touch it. I'll either eat it or throw it away myself.

All my things are mine mine mine mine mine mine.

Mostly because there's not much on this planet that I can claim to own.

Regarding my comic, I don't think I'll ever have to face such a problem though.

[KittyKatBlack]

I don't mind people posting my stuff or using my stuff as long as they give me credit for it. They don't even have to really ask (Though if they let me know it would be nice.) The only thing I won't tollerate is someone taking something I do, and going, 'Look what I made!' because they didn't. I want people to know that I made it, and not someone else. That's pretty much the only thing I have to say about that.

[Xmung]

as someone who has shamelessly ripped off an alex ross pic for my avatar i guess it's a bit hypocritical of me to say my stuff is my stuff, but i'll say it anyway! during my first hiatus (1998-99) i discovered some guy had set up a site with my cartoons claiming they were his. i tried emailing him but it bounced. once i got my site back up his disappeared all by itself (funny thing that!).

[Evil Jamie!]

I feel pretty much the same as War.