I was emailed a great poem by an anon. writer. Could I sell the poem on some plaques or t-shirts?

Question

Please can someone tell me, how does copyright law apply here? I don't want to steal anyone's work - I would gladly pass out this poem for free (it's animal-related and I think it would look great in a vet's office). But I am trying to sell some of my own writings on CafePress and I wondered if I could use this, as the writer is anonymous. Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Just because an author decides to remain anonymous, does not mean that the author's works are not subject to copyright law. The publisher will know who the author is and will look out for both of them.

Think about it this way, all those greeting cards are copyrighted; but can you name one author of a greeting card? American Greetings and Hallmark will protect their intererests if you start copying their works.

To be on the safe side, try double checking to see if the work you want to reprint is copyrighted. There should be an easy way for a lawyer specializing in copyright law to check for you.

Answer 2

I have one caution. Just because the poem was passed on to you by a person un-named, does not guarantee that they were the original author. They could be passing on something they took out of someone elses poetry collection!!

I would thank this unknown person, but never ever use the submission without knowing who they were legally. The song used by Barney the purple dinosaur was passed on this way and the show producers had to make good with the original author.

being anonymous is a long tradition in writing, along with pseudonyms, but the copyright office will have an address for legal protection. claiming other peoples work as your own will lead to very serious trouble.

Answer 3

Yes as long as you put "Author Unknown" or "Author Anonymous" at the end of the poem. When an author decides to remain that way, they cannot cite you for theft. By addting the statetments above, this will free you of possible harrassment of plegerism and show your integrity of being honest and trying to give credit where credit it due.

Answer 4

I would think that it would be ok as long as you show that your are not the author. As long as you suggest that the auther is anonymous and you are not the author.

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