(9 December, 2014)
The title says it all. I don’t know if the content of my
website was ever technically copyrighted since I never wrote up a copyright
notice. If it existed, that copyright is now gone.
This means that all the content on my website belongs to the public domain and can be used freely by anyone.
All the blog articles I post after this point will likewise be uncopyrighted unless I explicitly tack a copyright notice on to it. The same goes for all content I create, in whatever form.
I’m in the process of writing several books and at this time I plan to place a copyright on them. I’m steering toward self-publishing, though I’m uncertain whether a book produced with a traditional publisher can be uncopyrighted. I’d like to think so, but I’d have to look into it.
If you wish to use any of my content go right ahead. There is no need to ask permission. However, while I can’t require it I would appreciate it if you at least mention my name if you use my content. You could also share a link to my website and maybe even talk about how awesome I am.
Even if you don’t care about crediting me, plagiarism could still be an issue in spite of the copyright—especially if/when I attain glamour and fame. This is something I’ll also have to look into more. I know plagiarism doesn’t have to be a huge issue but to some people it definitely is, and this is an issue I’d rather avoid. I think it is easier and more intelligent to avoid the situation than to take a risk.
If you restructure my content into something that earns a profit, I likewise cannot require you to share the earnings with me. But, if you’re feeling generous then, well, I’ll take it! :) I plan to link a donations button to my PayPal account soon, but for now you can send me a message through the Contact form about it. I can’t say I expect my content to earn big bucks before I attempt monetization myself, but, hey, you never know.
Update: I now have a donations page.
Lastly, I don’t know what sort of legal power stands behind me here, but please don’t put words in my mouth and say I said something that I didn’t. If nothing else, just don’t go around saying that I am a fan of and endorse Clif Bars, because I don’t and I never will.
Okay?
Other Thoughts
It may have been more noble to wait for my website to become super popular to do this but I just can’t delude myself into thinking that I care to have a copyright. Every time I went to write a copyright notice I just thought, “Eh, I’ll do it tomorrow.” Now tomorrow is saying, No copyright for you. I’m down with that tomorrow.
I’ll also note to you that I think most of the time the best content you can create is your own. Build it from the ground up and put your heart into it. Personally I’d feel kind of “meh” regurgitating someone else’s content; I wonder enough about how similar I sound to others as it is.
That being said, I don’t mean to discourage you from doing so (that is, using others' content). Maybe you’ve even found yourself with a divinely-inspired idea upon reading this. I believe you can decide best for yourself on what to do. Don’t worry yourself about being evil or a thief; if you want to do it then go ahead. The only person stopping you is yourself—and I mean that fo’ real. The law cannot hurt you here, and I can’t either.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and exercise your newly-discovered rights (which are not your copyrights!). :)
That's it for now. I’ll update this if anything else comes up.