[HPforGrownups] The teaser words on JKR's note

[Sherry Garfio]

No: HPFGUIDX 46925

--- "Megalynn S." <megalynn44 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Actually, this is a copyright issue - the owner of a letter or notecard
> owns the notecard or letter, and can do anything with it, but cannot
> make copies of it - this is one of the questions we have in to Sotheby's
> and one of the reasons we're waiting to start the collection.
> 
> Heidi
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Actually that's wrong. If you buy copyrighted material then you are allowed 
> to make one personal copy for yourself. However if you own the copyright to 
> it (which buying this card would also mean buying the copyright) means you 
> can do whatever you want with it. Youc an sell copies or give them out. Well 
> that's unless British law is entirely different than American. But, going by 
> your rule JKR would not be able to make copies of her own books.
> 
> Megalynn

Erm... I don't think that buying this card is the same as buying the copyright.
 JKR wrote it, so she retains the copyright.  Buying the card is like buying a
book - you have the right to read it, loan it out, cite it, etc. but *not* to
make photocopies and sell them.

Now, from what I understand, if we simply *post* what is on the card, nobody is
making any money off of it, and it becomes comparable to loaning out a book you
have bought.  Furthermore, if we all contribute to its purchase, then it
belongs to *all* of us and we all have the right to read it.  But to be on the
safe side, it would be best to just be up front with it and ask permission. 
What we're proposing here isn't going to hurt anybody or deprive anybody of any
royalties, and permission would most likely be granted, at which point we could
stop worrying.

Of course, it is possible to *sell* a copyright, so if that is explicitly
stated in the terms of sale, then whoever buys it would have the right to sell
copies or whatever else they want to do with it.  Generally, though, at least
in the US, sale of an item does not imply sale of the copyright.

-Sherry (who is not sure she even *wants* to know what is on the card, but
would, nevertheless, be willing to contribute, since money seems to be flowing
freely from her pockets and into JKR's of late anyway ;->)


=====
"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers."

      -Dave Barry, "Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn"

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