In the "What about Dilbert?" LO thread, there have been numerous
references to "using" the cartoons within organizations. I just wanted to
add a cautionary note for those "using" the cartoons and publishing the
fact in an open forum like this one.
These things are syndicated and copyrighted and "Public performance" or
even a simple photocopy subjects you and the organization to a potentially
embarassing situation. And while the author may be a good guy, the music
syndicates actually send "shoppers" out to visit exercise salons to see if
they are playing music without paying a license. It is NOT a pretty
picture.
The keynote luncheoon presenter at a conference I attended this week used
5 Dilbert cartoons and a couple of others -- the bounty for reporting this
would have more than paid for the hotel, fees, and other expenses of any
of the participants who might choose to say something. And my guess is
that if one of THEM had gotten burned, the cascading effect might have
occurred.
Ironically, this same association's last meeting was with a lawyer
discussing this very issue!!
I am NOT an expert on the law; it's just that my continued exposure to
these things makes me quite sensitive.
So, be careful out there when it comes to "public performances" using
music and illustrations. By law, you can't even play "music on hold."
Illustrations don't even have to "say" that they are copyright for them to
be protected, as I understand it.
I wish that the laws were different on this not-for compensation play
stuff, but it ain't so. And I've written my congressmen in the past about
it.
For the Fun of It!
--Scott Simmerman Performance Management Company, 3 Old Oak Drive, Taylors SC USA 29687-6624 74170.1061@compuserve.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>