The Origami Forum

Since I have about 1/2 of my own model's diagram finished, i wanted to know if it would be a safer idea to copyright my model before I put it on the internet instead of just throwing my name into the diagram?

Thanks in advance,
AquaDragon.

P.S.: If i am posting in the wrong forum, i want to apologize in advance.

AquaDragon wrote:Since I have about 1/2 of my own model's diagram finished, i wanted to know if it would be a safer idea to copyright my model before I put it on the internet instead of just throwing my name into the diagram?

Copyright exists upon completion of the work. There's nothing you need to do other than to claim it. "Copyright ©2008 by Your Name Here".

Yeah, just about no one actually goes through a copyright process. Just write something like

• © DATE by YOUR_NAME

Some simple comments (from someone who has had a lot of hit work ripped off).

.gif and .jpg diagrams are much less likely to be pinched than .pdf eg http://home.no.net/origami/

Hand drawn diagrams are less likely to be pinched than computer drawn ones http://www.fishgoth.com

Put your name in big letters at the top. And at the bottom and sides. So that people know who the creator of the diagrams are.

Be prepared to still get ripped off, have diagrams stolen, and other internet bother.

Be prepared to send VERY threatening emails, addressed to 'Internet service provider', asking for the entire offending website to be taken down and personal details provided for your lawyer. cc the email to the website owner. A grovelling apology usually follows in minutes. It doesn't matter if you don't know the ISP's email; send it anyway. All that matters is the offending website THINKS that someone has sent the relevant email to the ISP

However, this will get your name known, and if they are good enough, will get you fan-mail...

And is it necessary to threaten with lawers if someone put your diagram on the web with text, that it is your model, your diagram and link to your web? Personally, I do not think so. Especially, if that man ask you about it.

Huh. I thought it would be a lot more complex than that. Thanks!

P.S.: As soon as I can find a camera, I can take a picture of the two models that I am currently diagramming.