7 replies to this topic

[John Bantin]

I've written a book. It's just gone off to the publisher. It's called Amazing Diving Stories.

There are 65 stories, most of which I have witnessed in some way.

I wrote to a few participants too get a few quotes.

The wife of one wrote back saying I couldn't use that particular story because they owned it.

I know about intellectual property but do they really think they can own an incident?

Edited by John Bantin, 26 November 2011 - 01:21 AM.

[decosnapper]

Not much to go on...but who wrote the words? You or the wife?

But you are right. AFAIK IP rights applies to the expression of the thought/idea - the words or image(s) used to express the idea - not the idea itself.

If that makes sense....?

If I wrote the accompanying text, I might be inclined to call their bluff...

[John Bantin]

Not much to go on...but who wrote the words? You or the wife?

I did.

But you are right. AFAIK IP rights applies to the expression of the thought/idea - the words or image(s) used to express the idea - not the idea itself.

If that makes sense....?

If I wrote the accompanying text, I might be inclined to call their bluff...

I did! Journalism could not exist if anyone could own an incident (unless it was performance art, I suppose.)

Edited by John Bantin, 26 November 2011 - 02:42 AM.

[decosnapper]

I did! Journalism could not exist if anyone could own an incident (unless it was performance art, I suppose.)

Quite. I think I would be inclined to refer to Arkell v Pressdram in my reply...

[John Bantin]

Quite. I think I would be inclined to refer to Arkell v Pressdram in my reply...

Reply?

[decosnapper]

Reply?

I was hypothesising - what my reply might be if faced with a similar situation, where someone was trying to apply copyright to something that isn't really intellectual property.

[John Bantin]

I was hypothesising - what my reply might be if faced with a similar situation, where someone was trying to apply copyright to something that isn't really intellectual property.

I saw no merit in replying. They can wait to discover the story is in the book some day - but without any quote from him. Everyone else I contacted was pleased to see their story published.

Edited by John Bantin, 26 November 2011 - 06:15 AM.

[John Bantin]

As a post script, I just got a charming letter from Lord Tebbit in the House of Lords, encouraging me to use the story I wrote about him (with quotes)!

Edited by John Bantin, 01 December 2011 - 08:42 AM.