MORE INFORMATION ABOUT COPYRIGHT.
Kristal Kraft's article today about Plagiarism and Copyright was interesting. She relates her experience in the past when confronting a copyright violators who stated "you can't copyright a map".
Behold RAINERS, one of the many Copyright Certificates of my maps. What this Certificate gives to me is an automatic claim for STATUTORY damages if someone takes one of my maps and uses it.
However, I'm not limited to statutory damages. When I discover that someone is using one of my maps, I don't give a warning. I send the evidence, web page, images, etc. to my attorney who sends a Cease and Desist letter DEMANDING that the site owner (1) remove my image, content or other copyrighted material from their web site and (2) money DAMAGES. The remedy is not a simple "take it down and it's all over". The use of my content, images or photos to compete with me has damaged my ability to enjoy the full benefit of my property in my web pages advertising my brokerage services. Therefore, damages will be paid for the use of my property.
Below is one of my many Copyright Certificates. However, a person does not need a Copyright Certificate to have copyright protection. Copyright conveys immediately upon creation, writing, photographing, etc. It merely makes collecting damages a big easier. These certificates cost me $30 each.
COPYRIGHT CERTIFICATE FOR FREDERICK COUNTY MAP MAP FREDERICK COUNTY MARYLAND
To date, I have collected damages from 7 individuals or groups in varying amounts from $2,000 to $41,000 per incident. One thing that is certain, there are no defenses when my images are found on a web site not belonging to me. I've heard all of them from, my web master did it to the Russians did it. If it is your web site, you are responsible. In Maryland, a broker is also responsible since brokers should review all advertising by agents in their brokerage. Or provide training, the least of which should advise, DON'T TAKE CONTENT, IMAGES, PHOTOGRAPHS FROM WEB SITES THAT DON'T BELONG TO YOU.
So, if you hear, "You can't copyright a map", don't believe them. They are WRONG.
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