Did they have copyright in 629?
April 24, 2007 11:59 AM Subscribe
At the bottom of this list of available emblems of belief for veteran's headstones two symbols, the christian scientist cross and crown and the muslim five pointed star, are said to be not shown due to copyright. What's up with that?
I can see the christian scientists, being new-ish, perhaps having a copyright on their symbols. But the muslim star copyrighted?
Also, how does copyright let you put a symbol on a tombstone, talk about that symbol on a tombstone, but not show on your website about symbols for tombstones that particular symbol on a tombstone?
And if anyone wants to discuss the various interesting/esoteric faiths listed at the above link, I don't mind the slight hijack. I was surprised to see the moravian lamb listed, due to my personal connection.
I can see the christian scientists, being new-ish, perhaps having a copyright on their symbols. But the muslim star copyrighted?
Also, how does copyright let you put a symbol on a tombstone, talk about that symbol on a tombstone, but not show on your website about symbols for tombstones that particular symbol on a tombstone?
And if anyone wants to discuss the various interesting/esoteric faiths listed at the above link, I don't mind the slight hijack. I was surprised to see the moravian lamb listed, due to my personal connection.
Smackfu's link (above) links to a patent application for a "Star and crescent structure and method thereof," a diagram of which is visible on this USPTO page.
I don't know if that's what the VA is talking about, and I also don't know if the star and crescent device can be patented independently of the associated device (given our screwed-up IP system, probably), but it's one thought.
I have a feeling that the VA is just being overcautious; I can't imagine anyone could really have a trademark or copyright on a generic Muslim symbol, if that's what it really is.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:37 PM on April 24, 2007
I don't know if that's what the VA is talking about, and I also don't know if the star and crescent device can be patented independently of the associated device (given our screwed-up IP system, probably), but it's one thought.
I have a feeling that the VA is just being overcautious; I can't imagine anyone could really have a trademark or copyright on a generic Muslim symbol, if that's what it really is.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:37 PM on April 24, 2007
Also, how does copyright let you put a symbol on a tombstone, talk about that symbol on a tombstone, but not show on your website about symbols for tombstones that particular symbol on a tombstone?
Copyright means you can do whatever the copyright holder says you can do. (Plus some certain additional things, regardless of whether the copyright holder allows it or not.) If I've written a novel, and I say, "you can reprint and sell it on yellow paper, but not on white paper; you can republish it on a website if the domain name starts with a vowel, but not if the domain name starts with a consonant," then, guess what? You can legally reprint and sell it on yellow paper, but not on white paper. You can legally republish it on edomain.com, but not on mydomain.com. The copyright holder doesn't have to have a rational basis for what he allows and doesn't allow.
More likely, in this case, the copyright holder sent a letter to the VA requesting that the emblem be available for use on veterans' tombstones (and thus implicitly granting permission for that use), but didn't explicitly grant the VA permission to use the symbol on their website, and the VA hasn't bothered to ask them permission to use it on their website - even though one might well imagine that the copyright holder would grant permission if the VA requested it.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:09 PM on April 24, 2007
Copyright means you can do whatever the copyright holder says you can do. (Plus some certain additional things, regardless of whether the copyright holder allows it or not.) If I've written a novel, and I say, "you can reprint and sell it on yellow paper, but not on white paper; you can republish it on a website if the domain name starts with a vowel, but not if the domain name starts with a consonant," then, guess what? You can legally reprint and sell it on yellow paper, but not on white paper. You can legally republish it on edomain.com, but not on mydomain.com. The copyright holder doesn't have to have a rational basis for what he allows and doesn't allow.
More likely, in this case, the copyright holder sent a letter to the VA requesting that the emblem be available for use on veterans' tombstones (and thus implicitly granting permission for that use), but didn't explicitly grant the VA permission to use the symbol on their website, and the VA hasn't bothered to ask them permission to use it on their website - even though one might well imagine that the copyright holder would grant permission if the VA requested it.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:09 PM on April 24, 2007
I am surprised they did not put the copyright info beside the United Methodist logo.
posted by 4ster at 8:14 PM on April 24, 2007
posted by 4ster at 8:14 PM on April 24, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Good Brain at 12:14 PM on April 24, 2007