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Cantonese | |
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Author | Message |
lungimsam
Newbie ![]() Joined: 05 November 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 05 November 2008 at 10:16pm |
I see it for sale packaged as different things. FSI, also a packaging called "Rapid Cantonese". What gives?? Is it really in the public domain?
Michael
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raincrowlee
Newbie ![]() Joined: 12 October 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27 |
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The FSI programs were made by the US government, which by law makes them public property in the US. Our taxes paid for them, so we get to use them.
The companies that have repackaged the programs can legally do so -- public domain means for everyone. They will often do something to change the format of the course slightly, which is enough for them to apply for a copyright for their formatting of the course. It's like an orchestra that makes a recording of a Beethoven symphony. The sheet music is in the public domain, but the performance is not. So if we go back to the original FSI material, it's usable, but none of the repackaged derived from it are. |
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DemiPuppet
Administrator ![]() Joined: 27 May 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 163 |
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The current law for government works is here: 17 USC 105
The statute on government works applies to almost all types of works (ie. text, maps, video, etc). It only applies to sound recordings created after 15 Feb, 1972. Pre-1972 sound falls under state common law protection 17 USC 301(c). The assumption is that the states would abide by the intent of the current law in regards to sound recordings for common law. The works also fall under state statutory law. Even if a recording is in the public domain, it may still be illegal to sell. The lack of a copyright notice on any published text and post-1972 sound recordings also places the items in the public domain. The notice requirement disappeared after March 1989 but is retroacitive to items published before that date. For a reasonably good description of the public domain, read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Public_domain and http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/public_domain/ For common law, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_law Warning: The works may still be copyrighted in foreign countries, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_the_shorter_term Warning: Anyone wishing to copy and sell recording created before 15 Feb 1972 must check their state's laws for unaauthorized recording. Copying and selling large quantities may be a felony in some states even if the work is in the public domain! For example, New York law states: § 275.05 Manufacture of unauthorized recordings in the second degree. The pre-1972 sound recordings on this site are not being sold or rented § 275.35 Failure to disclose the origin of a recording in the second degree.As always, I am not a lawyer and this post should not be construed as offering legal advice. Edit 2008.11.28 - Added text on state law. Edited by DemiPuppet - 28 November 2008 at 9:36pm |
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lungimsam
Newbie ![]() Joined: 05 November 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
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Thanks for the info. Very informative. I wish I would have found this page before I paid $39.99 for the Rapid Cantonese course. Arghhh....
![]() Thanks for having this wonderful page and forums for canto learners. Really nice to have this service.
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