A threatening letter for 40 or 50 bucks? Only if you are a close friend or relative or I seriously want the case. I am a lawyer, and I do play one on the web. If what you say pans out (protective qualifier, see, I really am a JD)you have a clear cut copyright infringement case, assuming that you want to waste your life pursuing it. You also have a common law tort of passing off your work as theirs. No you don't need to put copyright on it, but it helps. Here is how: "Copyright 1999 by Daniel P. White, all rights reserved." It used to be that by registering with the copyright office you could increase your statutory rights and remedies for a nominal fee if registered within a certain time. As I don't practice much in this area, I can't say if that has changed. May the infringer assert their own copyright? But of course. If someone else then copies it from them, along with any changes they have made (a derivative work, albiet unauthorized), then they can sue for copyright infringement, and so can you. See an intellectual property lawyer in your area if you would like to complicate your life with years of litigation and hang out with lawyers if they have stolen something significant to your livlihood. But if only your pride has been hurt and you want revenge, think long and hard, cause even if you make a few bucks, it won't be worth it. www.bayarealaw.com
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A threatening letter for 40 or 50 bucks? Only if you are a close friend or relative or I seriously want the case. I am a lawyer, and I do play one on the web. If what you say pans out (protective qualifier, see, I really am a JD)you have a clear cut copyright infringement case, assuming that you want to waste your life pursuing it. You also have a common law tort of passing off your work as theirs. No you don't need to put copyright on it, but it helps. Here is how: "Copyright 1999 by Daniel P. White, all rights reserved." It used to be that by registering with the copyright office you could increase your statutory rights and remedies for a nominal fee if registered within a certain time. As I don't practice much in this area, I can't say if that has changed. May the infringer assert their own copyright? But of course. If someone else then copies it from them, along with any changes they have made (a derivative work, albiet unauthorized), then they can sue for copyright infringement, and so can you. See an intellectual property lawyer in your area if you would like to complicate your life with years of litigation and hang out with lawyers if they have stolen something significant to your livlihood. But if only your pride has been hurt and you want revenge, think long and hard, cause even if you make a few bucks, it won't be worth it. www.bayarealaw.com