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by suzie137 on April 26th, 2009

suzie137

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Can a news story describing a news event be copyrighted?

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  • by Spaniel on April 26th, 2009

    Spaniel

    Copyrights cover expression of an idea rather than the idea itself.

    So you cannot copyright the fact that something happened, but if you write about it that material is subject to copyright laws, and people cannot reproduce your account of the event.

    Bottom line, all stories can be copyrighted but that covers only the words you used to write about it -- not the event itself.

    Comments

    • Minor correction - it is not technically correct to say "stories can be copyrighted"
      In most countries, stories are automatically copyrighted when they are written. saying the "can be" implies that there is some other action necessary to secure copyright. there isn't.

      yahoot

      by yahoot on September 12th, 2009

    • You are absolutely right. It would have been more accurate to say a story is protected by copyright rather than that they can be.

      Spaniel

      by Spaniel on September 14th, 2009

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