From the editor's cauldron

I'm addressing copyright infringement.

Quite a few of the bulletins that I have received have clever cartoons that originally appeared in newspapers. Those cartoons are copyrighted. It further appeared that editors copied it from the first editor who copied it because the cartoons turned up a few months later in different bulletins. As PROBEmoter editor receiving bulletins from all over the Society, I have the privilege to see and compare those bulletins. Sometimes what I see is uncomfortable, such as copyright material being reproduced.

First of all, whether it is music, cartoons or text, it is illegal to reproduce anything that is copyrighted. Next, just because you copy something that another editor copied, you are not off the hook. Fines for reproducing copyright materials are extremely severe. It is not a flat fine; the fine is per copy made. You and your chapter are liable for copyright infringements.

If you want to reproduce copyright material, you must contact the artist or author via the publication. Verbal permission is not acceptable. You must have it in writing. The next step is to state that permission was given for you to reproduce the work. Also, when permission is given, it is usually stated that it is for a one-time usage. That, too, must be included in the permission statement. The permission letter must be kept on file for one year. No one else is allowed to reproduce from that permission. If the author, artist or publisher allows anything beyond that, it will be stated and anyone else then using the material must carry the permission statement.

Sometimes, for instance, we see cartoons in other chapter bulletins and want to copy them. If that cartoon appears to be from a copyrighted source originally, or if you even think that there is a slim chance that it may be, do not reproduce it.

Clever is clever, but being fined for copyright infringement is stupid.

Ran out of space in this issue

My original plan was to have a recap of the Bulletin Editors' Survey in this issue. However, I only received enough material for 12 pages and I didn't want to use filler to go with the recap to reach 16 pages. So, the Jan.-Mar. 2000 issue will for sure have the information.