Copyright question
- biogardener
- marnad1963
- sckaroly
- marnad1963
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» biogardener - Do you know the law?
Marna, I have volunteered to help with the website of a local herb society, but I am making certain demands first. I found out yesterday, that the society searches cookbooks for recipes each month and hands photocopies out to the dozens of members who attend the monthly meeting. If that is not bad enough, those recipes are published on the website.I am absolutely horrified by that and have told them that I would not assist with the website unless everyone agrees to abide by the strictest of copyright law.
Tell me, Marna, am I unreasonable? Here is the URL I sent in support of what I am saying.
-- posted by biogardener
» marnad1963 - Re: Do you know the law?
In response to message posted by biogardener:Hi there, sorry I am so tardy in responding. I am graduating in a month, and we moved. Lots going on.
About recipes -- you can't copyright a recipe. Let me clarify, you can't copyright the ingredients, however, you can copyright the way in which something is prepared.
Typically when people hand out recipes, it says on the bottom, it may be distributed for educational purposes, etc, but not for resale.
In schools, they distribute handouts all the time, so in this instance it might be okay, so make xerox copies and hand them out.
If these recipe show up on web sites without permission, then that's wrong. Does this help?
-- posted by marnad1963
» sckaroly - Re: Re: Do you know the law?
In response to message posted by MarnaG:Marna, you can't copyright an idea or recipe method. What's copyrighted is the expression of the idea or method. From what I understand, recipes, as a rule, cannot be copyrighted, especially the list of ingredients, the recipe title and common instructions. Special formating and unique content (like extensive descriptions and instruction in the form of a poem) can be copyrighted.
Here's what the Library of Congress has to say on the topic: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl122.pdf .
-- posted by sckaroly
» marnad1963 - Re: Re: Re: Do you know the law?
In response to message posted by sckaroly:Hi Steve
thanks I thought's that what I said, perhaps I said it incorrectly thank you!
-- posted by marnad1963
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