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Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2011 August 5

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August 5

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Pretoecting original work, while still putting it online

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Ok, so I am in a writer's group of about 15 people that meet weekly. We generally just share short stories and serials, and comment on each other's work. It has been suggested that we start a blog to better keep up with each other's writing (some of the group are out of town, etc). I don't want to be a party-pooper, but I am concerned about the security of my intellectual property. How can I ensure someone won't copy and paste my work and claim it as their own? Is their a way to "certify" or "time stamp" original fiction? Quinn ❀ BEAUTIFUL DAY 02:54, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

There is no way to prove anything on the Interwebs. :-) If you are really concerned about protecting your ideas, most public blogging software has a way to limit readership. I.E., if you were to use the popular blogger.com, there is a setting under permissions for "Blog Readers", which you can set to "Only people I choose", so that only your group can read those posts. Avicennasis @ 03:26, 5 Av 5771 / 5 August 2011 (UTC)
Post a summary of what you have written with an offer to send the rest by e-mail. Limit the e-mails to the people you know and trust, who are probably the ones who know and trust you. There has to be trust when sharing anything copyrightable. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 12:19, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
If you want to "time-stamp" it, for whatever it is worth, make a secured hash (e.g. with SHA-512) of the text, then post it somewhere neutral that has time stamping ability (like your Wikipedia profile). You could always then show that that particular text corresponded with that time-stamped hash. (You don't have to use a hash, in this case, since all you really care about is the time stamp. But it's a little easier than just posting the text itself somewhere.) This is a separate thing from ways to limit who has access to the writing. There are a lot of options for that, like Google Documents that are only shared with a select group, or a shared Dropbox folder, or whatever. In the end, the only real way you have to make copyright claims "real" is your threat to sue someone if they violate them. --Mr.98 (talk) 15:57, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I know ahead of time this is not going to be the popular thing to say, but this is bordering on legal advice. The OP is asking about how to properly protect his intellectual property; that sort of instruction is best provided by an intellectual property lawyer. If someone here tells him to do something, and it doesn't work, we here have no fiduciary responsibility as an intellectual property lawyer would. It's no skin off our backs if we're wrong, but the OP essentially ends up getting screwed because of bad advice. That's not to say that the advice so far given is bad, and to say that is also not to say that its good. Its just that the best place to seek this advice is from an intellectual property lawyer, and not from us. --Jayron32 16:11, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The OP's concern is the same as that of authors who submit their manuscripts to a publisher. An old trick is to mail by registered post a copy of one's own manuscript to oneself in a sealed envelope. The envelope when opened in court would serve as evidence. This is not practical legal advice in this digital age. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 18:32, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Googling for mail to yourself copyright finds many suggestions that protecting your copyright by mailing stuff to yourself is a myth. Anyway, Wikipedia does not offer legal advice. 88.112.59.31 (talk) 20:05, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
If you're talking about a blog that's open to the public, then another thing to be concerned about is that some publishers might be wary to buy a work if it's been previously made available free on the Internet. (And they'll know. Just like a teacher grading an essay, they'll pick a few distinctive sentences and pop them in a google search.)
In fact, I'd worry about that far more than being ripped off. APL (talk) 00:11, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
OTOH the fact that text has been published free on the Internet can be seen as an advantage to a publisher. Anyone can create from the Ref. Desk archive a book of memorable answers, see WP:CW. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:20, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Why would a publisher be happy about that? Publishers want unique things that they can market exclusively. A book of Ref Desk answers would be neither (they are not unique because they are already on the Internet; they are not exclusive because the publisher has no ability to control others from just reprinting the same things). There are some publishers that specialize in public domain works, but it's not a place where there's a huge margin for markup (competition is high, so prices are low). --Mr.98 (talk) 21:32, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Think Reader's Digest. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 22:33, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Sure, If you're Cory Doctorow, it might be an advantage that your work had been online. But if you're not a world famous blogger with a massive existing readership, publishing your work for free on the Internet (even just on a blog or forum.) could seriously hurt your chances of selling your work to a publisher.
This isn't the sort of thing that can "go either way". If a work has been previously published it represents an unnecessary hassle and risk for a publisher. They only put up with that sort of hassle from writers who are established big names. If you're an unknown writer they'll just move on to the next unknown writer in their slush pile. Plenty of fish in the sea. APL (talk) 07:12, 7 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
You could post it online but encrypted. Just posting the has online is less convincing. When challenged, reveal the key and then others can verify that you put it there. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 22:12, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]


I recall that a recent (after 2009) Writer's Digest had several articles on Internet readership groups. The takeaway was that your work is considered published if you post it on an Internet forum that does not require a username/login to access the work. Publishers will NOT publish something from an unknown author if the publication rights could possibly be in dispute: there's just too much to lose.99.100.92.26 (talk) 02:17, 7 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Airport built by Army in Orlando 1951

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I was in the us army in 1951, we were sent down there to build an airport and there was not a thing there then, I'd like to see an artical on the building of the airport that was built by the 812 EAB from Orlando Fal. W H Crisco — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.106.219.136 (talk) 02:56, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

First off, thank you for your service. :-) Do you recall if it was a military or civilian air field? Or which part of Orlando, or possibly the name of the airport? The only thing I can think of is McCoy Air Force Base, which was (re)opened in 1951. You could also look through Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Florida and see if any of those ring a bell. Avicennasis @ 05:26, 5 Av 5771 / 5 August 2011 (UTC)

Correcting a factual error

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Could you please tell me who to contact to correct a 'Wrong Name' stated in the text of the Wikipedia biographical information regarding 'Thomas John Smith - Australian Racehorse Trainer' on Wikipedia. For your information in the text of the Wikipedia biographical website it states that his fathers name was 'Neil Smith' which is wrong. Thomas John Smith's father's name was in fact 'Edward (Ned) Smith'. You see his father, 'Edward (Ned) Smith' was my great uncle, my grandfather's brother.

Thankyou

Pamela — Preceding unsigned comment added by Caspdot (talk • contribs) 12:31, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I assume you are referring to Tommy J. Smith? You don't need to contact anybody - you can correct errors yourself. However please note that it is preferred that information, especially where likely to be contentious, is referenced. This applies especially to Biographies of Living People, which of course doesn't apply to the subject here. While it doesn't appear that the Neil Smith claim is referenced, do you know of anywhere we can find a reliable reference for Ned Smith? --jjron (talk) 13:27, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
(ec)Is this about the Wikipedia article about Tommy J. Smith 1916 - 1998 ? Here is a picture to help recognition. If so, Pamela please bring your information to the article talk page. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 18:21, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Celebrations

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I see that today is International Beer Day. Since I choose not to celebrate a majority of holidays, obscure celebrations like this, revolving around food or activities, catch my interest. Please help me out and fill out the list below and/or add to it. Thanks Wikipedians! Schyler (exquirere bonum ipsum) 19:11, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Obscure Celebrations


Yeah, as Avic said above, they should all be in Category:Unofficial observances. And if they're not, add 'em to the cat.  Chzz  ►  20:18, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I don't know of a "book/reading day" but there is a US National Book Month in October. See List of commemorative months. And not a holiday or celebration as you exactly describe, there are numerous Clothing-optional bike rides. Warning: Link is likely NSFW though the lead image is nice. :-) Dismas|(talk) 20:49, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Just to let you know, I added the Example Day simply because Pancake Day seemed to be functioning as an example of what you wanted, and it was the one I knew. 86.163.0.19 (talk) 21:24, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I looked at the category and it is very incomplete. The coolest (although I once upon a time participated in ITLAPD) I found was Bacon Day. There's got to be more. What about Baked Potato Day or take your cat to work day? Schyler (exquirere bonum ipsum) 02:43, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

My favorite is Star Wars Day, which is May 4. As in "May the Fourth Be With You". Or as a chemist I have a fond spot in my heart for Mole Day. --Jayron32 03:40, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The best is Steak and Blowjob day. Our article was sadly deleted. Adam Bishop (talk) 07:11, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
We are all happy for you Adam but S&BJ day was only intended as an augmentation of Valentine's Day. As a Wikipedia article it would be hard to swallow. Cuddlyable3 (talk) 15:07, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Try the Holiday Insights website. — Michael J 12:28, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Can't believe I forgot this one - In my hometown, we had Sweetest Day, which was like Valentine's Day, except it was in October, and it was primarily the girls who would buy flowers and candy and stuff for the guys, as opposed to the the reverse that usually happens on Valentine's Day. Avicennasis @ 16:02, 6 Av 5771 / 6 August 2011 (UTC)
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