[Gllug] Copyright on email

[Adrian McMenamin]

On Fri, October 26, 2007 12:07 pm, - Tethys wrote:
> On 10/26/07, Andy Smith <andy at lug.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> > What is interesting is the copyright notice at the bottom of it.
>>
>> Just because you are sent something in email does not mean that you
>> have to agree to the terms of it.
>
> In this case, yes it does. Copyright isn't a contract that needs to be
> agreed upon by both parties.
>

Indeed. And all emails, including this one, are arguably copyrighted in
any case. Though possibly by your employer rather than you.

Incidentally, anything you say may also covered by copyright. Luckily
little of this has ever been tested in the courts -- from Section 1 of the
relevant act:

1) Copyright is a property right which subsists in accordance with this
Part in the following descriptions of work—
(a) original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works,
(b) sound recordings, films, broadcasts or cable programmes, and
(c) the typographical arrangement of published editions.

And Section 3


3 Literary, dramatic and musical works (1) In this Part—
“literary work” means any work, other than a dramatic or musical work,
which is written, spoken or sung, and accordingly includes—
(a) a table or compilation, and
(b) a computer program;
“dramatic work” includes a work of dance or mime; and
“musical work” means a work consisting of music, exclusive of any words or
action intended to be sung, spoken or performed with the music.
(2) Copyright does not subsist in a literary, dramatic or musical work
unless and until it is recorded, in writing or otherwise; and references
in this Part to the time at which such a work is made are to the time at
which it is so recorded.
(3) It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (2) whether the work
is recorded by or with the permission of the author; and where it is not
recorded by the author, nothing in that subsection affects the question
whether copyright subsists in the record as distinct from the work
recorded.

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