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I recently found out that the company I work for received a copyright notice
from Webster regarding an advertisement they were running. The ad used the
word value and contained a graphic that showing the pronunciation and the
definition of the word. The letter stated that they needed to obtain
permission if they were to continue to run the ad.
I realise that there are a lot of copyright issues to consider, but this is
one I would never have thought of.
Is this something that anyone else has come across with manuals or other
materials being distributed to the public?
<SNIP
For all Writers/Tech Writer/Artists, etc. see this link to copyright basics.
Copyright is an important issue and I would have thought someone at your company
would have known the issues involved.
The ramifications can be very serious. I provide this link on my nature
photography web site before the photos are shown.
Basically, what it comes down to is this; someone made it and if you want to use
it, for any reason, you'd need to get written/signed permission.
Randall Larson-Maynard
Technical Writer
Alstom Automation Schilling Robotics
Davis, CA, USA
randall -dot- larson-maynard -at- ind -dot- alstom -dot- com
www.schilling.com