Gary Russell wrote:Well it's not 'red tape', it's copyright and it's the single most important thing writers, artists, musicians, filmakers etc have to protect their work. Stealing copyright is stealing from creatives, in the same way someone coming into your house and stealing everything from that, which you've worked all your life to pay for, would be.Rob Houghton wrote:Its a shame, because there must be thousands of great writers out there who never see their book published due simply to 'red tape'!
Yes - you are right, Boatbuilder - that's exactly what I meant - all the hoops a writer must jump through these days in order to even get their book glanced at!Boatbuilder wrote:I read Rob's post as referring to the 'red tape' when Julie wrote that publishers don't want to touch untested writers, nothing to do with the copyright thing.
I agree that is everyone's protection for their work no matter what field it is in.
Copyright is very important to me - i would be extremely annoyed if anyone stole the novels and stories I have written!
I've often designed posters for the musical theatre company I belong to, and a few years ago, did this design for 'Half A Sixpence' -
About a year later someone brought some fliers for another local companies production of the same show - and imagine my annoyance when I saw a design with same colours, same poses, same background, same lettering, but two central figures that were very much cartoonish in style. It was a complete rip-off of my design. I wasn't too happy - but as we are just amateurs, there was little I could do.
Seriously, Rob, that's a great design — how awful that it was ripped off, but as you say, what can you do? 
At least you didn't lose any money by it, but it must have been galling all the same.
Those who know me on facebook will have seen some of the others. 
