User:Newmanbe/Copyright questions

Terrorists

 * Why would IEEMA override copyright treaties? Because it applies to works that were created in the U.S. too?
 * If the "seized property" is in the public domain, does that mean we can use all of the works, for example, of Russia (which is under sanctions)?
 * If the "seized property" is in the public domain, is it made that way ex opere operato or does it have to be declared?
 * I ask this because the terrorist may die (and the works would fall to their heirs) before their action becomes known.

Suicide notes

 * Why should suicide notes be treated any differently than other works?
 * Does it matter if the person never tried or succeeded in committing suicide?
 * Would a suicide note be in the public domain if was written not for committing suicide (exemplia gratia, as a personal writing exercise)?

Works Released by the United States Government

 * If the United States general government releases document that it did not create that is/was copyrighted, would that make it be in the public domain? (Such as a translation or something released in a criminal proceeding)

For all of the above

 * "Also, I'll point out that both the mass media and book publishers have consistently agreed that suicide notes are public domain...and nobody has ever challenged them."
 * Why does how the mass media treat something make any difference? (this argument has also made been as to why works by terrorists are in the public domain?
 * If there is no specific provision in the law, we have to follow jurisprudence. If there is no jurisprudence, we have to follow common practice. Yann 21:35, 4 November 2006 (UTC)
 * (This is somewhat of a wish list to be answered by a lawyer) We are not mass media for one thing. I would say that case law would say that something is copyrighted by default; there needs to be a reason for it to be in the public domain. --Benn Newman 23:18, 4 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Would these works be in the public domain outside of the United States?
 * As an example, French copyright law said something like "whatever is public domain in the country of origin, is also public domain in France" (that's not the exact wording, but the result is the same). So all PD documents produced in USA are also PD in France. I think many countries have a similar rule. Yann 21:30, 4 November 2006 (UTC)
 * Right, but Osama bin Laden did not write his works in the U.S. That is why I have this question. --Benn Newman 23:18, 4 November 2006 (UTC)