Forum OpenACS Q&A: Response to Experience with Open Publication Licence?

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Posted by Tom Jackson on

Actually it sound like you want to copyright it. Sorry to continue this way, but copyright only applies to commercial use. Think of an Associated Press story. It shows up on the web, in your local paper, etc. Everyone can read it. But I can't take that and sell it to a magazine and pocket the money. This is not a legal definition, only a practical one. If you are really struggling over this, talk to your attorney, someone familiar with copyright and patent law. If you want examples, you might look at what writers are required to sign in order to get published.

There are two contracts here: one for the writer and another for anyone reading the material. If the writer doesn't sign over his rights, you can't own a copyright.