Re: Copyrighting FAQ titles

Tom Lane (tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us)
Thu, 19 Dec 1996 22:17:23 -0500

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Previous message: Terry Carroll: "Re: Copyrighting FAQ titles"
Maybe in reply to: Mama Lani: "Copyrighting FAQ titles"

Mama Lani <lani@lava.net> writes:
> The problem is, he put a copyright notice on the title of the
> document--both "Walt Disney World FAQ" and "WDW FAQ."

Hmm. Certainly IANAL, but I think that a copyright protects the whole
work --- ie, his whole FAQ --- not the title alone. Book authors can't
stop other authors from recycling their titles, as far as I've heard.

Had he *trademarked* the title, you'd be in trouble, but I don't see
why you can't use the same title for an independently developed FAQ.
Especially since it's such a generic title for this topic. And most
especially considering that he doesn't own the rights to either of the
phrases "Walt Disney World" or "WDW". You ask me, the risk of Disney
getting unhappy with you is far more significant.

There's also the obvious fact that he's not very likely to turn up and
sue you. But I think you could make the case that you are in the clear
legally and morally.

If you want to be doubly sure, maybe you could call your new FAQs
"Joe Blow's New Improved WDW FAQ", "Mama Lani's Guide to Walt Disney
World", etc.

regards, tom lane

Previous message: Terry Carroll: "Re: Copyrighting FAQ titles"
Maybe in reply to: Mama Lani: "Copyrighting FAQ titles"

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