It has come to my attention that it is possible I have been infringing copyright law by sharing cartoons every day. I don’t want to do that – apart from not wanting to go to jail (though I might soon be in there for stalking, so should I worry?), I, well, I don’t want to go to jail, full stop. Black and white stripes are so not me.
I thought if I linked back to the source it was okay, but apparently not, which means I have been a naughty girl at least 407 times this year.
From tomorrow I will not be posting a cartoon with the daily joke. I think I’ll miss it more than you; I love cartoons.
Don’t worry – no one is harassing me; this has come from several articles I read over the last couple of weeks. I thought a pre-emptive cease and desist would be more dignified than heading in panic for the hills when there came a knock on my door.
I have read that they don’t mind the occasional share, just so long as it’s not a habit – which it has been thus far, but isn’t from today. Sorry about that.
Because it is no longer a habit of mine to share cartoons with you, I hope you don’t mind if I act out of character and share this one:
The Laughing Housewife 
And apparently reblogging is not wise either (according to some stuff I’ve read lately!) It’s dangerous out there!
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I hadn’t heard that. I thought it was okay because using the reblog takes you back to the source, because you read the whole thing at their blog, not yours.
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I subscribe to the blog of lady barefoot baroness and she got well an truly ‘told’ be someone she reblogged – you have to go to her blog to see the story – kind of weird…
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Why I’ve clicked ‘like’ is because I like your honesty and strength of purpose, though your sign-off may dilute that! I shall miss the cartoons. Couldn’t you just post a link, and we could go look at them or not?
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That’s an option!
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How did you know I said that??? 🙂
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😀
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Funny post! ItI think it’s ok to copy as long as you ask.
Then again, no one asks. What a legal nightmare if they try to resolve it 🙂
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Definitely! Better to avoid it, I think 🙂
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I like vivinfrance’s idea of the link. YAY for cartoons! I know there has to be rules, else someone could be posting my hard work as theirs, but some of it gets to be confusing.
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Okay; if there’s enough support, I’ll add a link. A happy compromise. 🙂
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I don’t want you going to jail, I’ll miss the cartoons but they aren’t worth the price of freedom. In the states you would be in an orange jumper not much better than black and white stripes. All this legalese is too much for my little brain.
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Orange is at least cheerful 🙂
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Orange is so they can spot you and shoot you more easily if you run away!
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Didn’t really want to know that…
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Interesting…My invoice for keeping quiet about your previous misdemanours will arrive in your inbox soon. I assure you that I run a competitively priced criminal extortion racket.
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That’s mighty reasonable of you. Is that a bill in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?
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I like to think that it’s a healthy mix of both 🙂
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🙂
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Damn those copyright rules.
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That’s what I was thinking 🙂
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Something we all share, from time to time, “wrong.”
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😀 🙂
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The thing is – how will “they” ever discover who the real originator may have been?? Don’t all jokes come from one of only about three sources?
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Lots of stuff is listed on free image sites. Some says this image may be copy written. Others have a copy right on the picture. I found a picture of me posted on one. Big laugh. Most of what you see on the web is purloined.
I would worry if you were using the same cartoon over and over again and making gobs of money or had gobs of money. Then someone else with gobs of money might come after you.
A personal story. The words Emotional Fitness Training are mine, I had them trademarked. And every once in a while I do a little search and find people using my treasured words without permission. I send a note saying cease and desist. Some do, some don’t. I have little money and it is fading away rapidly. So I do nothing more.
Well, I keep a little list so if I hit the power ball and have run out of things to buy and people to endow, I might seek revenge. But probably will be too old and tired to do anything but bask in the sun and scratch my belly have my handsome house boy feed me grapes while I wait for the grim reaper.
Poems and song lyrics are different. But again you have to be big enough and rich enough and they have to have money enough to go after you. Leonard Cohen could get me for my tagline. But he has been a gentleman so far.
So I would say keep posting the cartoons.
Now another thought. My fantasy for you has been a joke a day book based on your blog. If you did that, you would have to collect permission for any images used and possibly for jokes also. And again only if it became a big seller and the owner had money to spare and vengeance in his or her heart.
Finally, there is something called the culture of use. At least that worked when I was a big boss and wanted to fire someone. Say a worker came late and that among other things was cause to set a fire and remove him or her from by vicinity. I could only pursue firing if almost everyone else on my staff came on time. Doesn’t apply for major crimes of violence, but I suspect will eventually be argued for internet usage of other people’s stuff.
The big publisherers are fretting and fuming about this and scared white–even the black ones who have left South Africa. See I read all of you.
The ethical thing to my devious and Cranky Old Lady’s mind is to acknowledge the source and provide a link to the person’s website or the website where you found the cartoon.
Finally, I am not a lawyer, but come from a long line of Philadelphia lawyers and that those are the ones you want on your side. Also my husband thinks he is a lawyer, but he is a bit too honest. Apologies to all honest lawyers. I do one or two are out there.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to avoid all the things on my ToDo list. My procrastination must be fed.
.
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My pleasure!
I do always link to any source (clicking on the picture takes you straight there). I think most people don’t mind because only one person ever came back to me with a gentle hint. I am being cautious. But I really don’t want to steal anyone’s intellectual property so I decided that stopping was the best thing to do.
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Excellent point 🙂
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joking aside… just how could they police it all?
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I don’t think they could; it’s an honour thing, really.
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I love the cartoon!
I understand cartoonists trying to protect their rights, but at the same time you give them free publicity and they should like that. I think writers, illustrators and musicians all need to embrace new technologies that help get the word out there so more and more people can know them, rather than become so paranoid.
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I think you’re right. The internet has changed everything and a new more mature view of copyright and ownership has to be established. It’s a massive paradigm shift and many people are struggling to keep up. Unsure of where the dust will settle they cling helplessly to the old ways, but the old ways are gone. And they ain’t coming back. If someone posts a creation of yours, makes no money out of it but raises your profile and makes others newly aware of you, then they are doing you a favour (while simultaneously paying their respect to you and your work) and that should be celebrated, not punished.
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I completely agree. I LOVE it when people share my posts – but then, I have a very low profile 🙂
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No one has complained to me, to be fair. I just don’t like the idea that I’m doing something wrong. I’m very law abiding 🙂
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Dear Tilly Bud, Copyright is on everyone’s mind right now. I had to break my own rules and protect my site. By the way, after reading your copyright, I went right in, big as brass, and borrowed your first sentence. I think it is a normal part of copyright notices. If not, please let me know, and I’ll get it off the page. I will miss your cartoons!
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No, it’s fine. I got it from a page on copyright, sometime back. They encourage it.
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Can’t you just draw your own cartoons and post them? You know, like the people who remake classic movies, but remake them almost similar?
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I rhink you are mistaking me for someone who knows one end of a pencil from the other.
Have you met my friend, Tinman?
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Oops! Not sure what happened there.
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You naughty girl! but they were great and I am sure that one or two will soon sneak back
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😉
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Aww I’ll miss them so much! But well if it makes you feel safer, it’s alright 🙂 No matter what I’ll never stop reading your jokes!
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My faithful reader! 🙂
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I’d pass on the stripes too…it’s orange here in Maine…and I’d only have to move a block but I’d be law abiding too. Sigh.
Thanks for letting us know…I missed them…am working backwards on my emails so wondered where they went.
Peace,
Siggi in Downeast Maine
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The cartoons are funny, but we’d miss you more if you went to jail than we’d miss your cartoons.
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I’ve wondered about that Tilly and I think your decision is wise. Better safe than sorry. I’m looking into the re-blog thing… Something about it doesn’t sit well with me… 😦
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I don’t mind other people re-blogging my posts because it brings new readers.
I like re-blogging my own posts because it gives me a chance to improve them; and many of the early posts had almost no readers 🙂
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