The new client and I were discussing the content he wanted me to produce. After discussing his general objectives and some thoughts about design, he handed me a brochure and said, “Everything you’ll need is in here.” Even a quick skim told me that it was an excellent, well-written brochure. The content was spot-on, and … Read more
Few people really understand the relationship between content in white papers and copyrights. When they develop a white paper, they often consider including good information they’ve seen published or posted elsewhere. However, that could involve breaking the law. About copyright law Which law? Copyright law. If you copy and use something that’s been created by … Read more
I was surprised to see a favorite non-profit had committed an illegal act. On the third page of a recent newsletter, they reprinted an item from Reader’s Digest. It was germane to their mission, and they kindly included a credit line. Still, they broke the law. Which law? Copyright law. Unless they formally obtained permission from … Read more
There are many misunderstandings about white papers and copyrights. When organizations develop white papers, they may want to include information they’ve seen in another publication or online. However, doing so may involve breaking the law. About copyright law Which law? Copyright law. Unless they obtained specific permission from the creators of the publication or website, … Read more
Plagiarism in white papers is a topic that raises questions now and again. When people are developing white papers for their companies, they often find great source material in white papers from other companies, from competitors’ blog posts, and a quick Google search. What plagiarism in white papers involves It’s okay to use the materials … Read more
You’re responsible for your organization’s newsletter, and the other day, you read a great item in a magazine. It’s perfect for your organization’s audience, so you reprint it in your newsletter. If you didn’t get permission to do so, you’ve just broken the law. “Wait!” you protest. “I put the name of the magazine under … Read more
One of the most powerful forms of legal protection is also one of the easiest to obtain. Under federal copyright law, you can declare your ownership of an article, blog, website, or similar creation simply by affixing a legal copyright notice to it. (Mandatory legal disclosure: I am not an attorney, nor have I played … Read more
A common source of confusion for many company owners and marketers is the world of copyrights and trademarks. While I’ll never claim to be an attorney or an expert on intellectual property, working in the advertising and marketing industry for many years has given me a good practical education in these legal methods for protecting … Read more