My Stevie Nicks/Chris Isaak Post, copyright considerations-please read

If you have viewed anything I have created for the Advice Sisters online publications over the past 14 (nearly 15) years, you kmow that I am not just a life & career expert, I'm a freelance writer and author of several non-fiction, self help books.

Last week I posted a rather lengthy review of the Stevie Nicks/Chris Isaak concert at Jones Beach. I had hoped that fans, and perhaps the performers themselves, would find the review interesting, well written, useful. And, when the post started appearing on fanzblogs, I had no problem with that at all, until I discovered that a number of these blogs lifted the entire piece and posted it as theirs without ANY attribution to me or this blog, whatsoever. This is simply stealing.

Long ago, I realized that the Internet wasn't quite as tightly regulated as print publishing, and I also realized that it is a wonderful way for people to share ideas and information, network with one another, and get to know my work as a writer. However, there are still rules of "Netiquette" and legal ones of copyright law that must be observed online. Too many people think they that if they can "right click and save" something or simply copy it and paste it, it should be theirs for the taking.

Last year I created a myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/alisonsadvice with information about copyrights, because so many people were taking entire articles and other pieces of my work without any concern or regard. There are obviously people reading my blog (thank you) and I appreciate your attention, but please remember that writers make their living from getting paid, and from the exposure they receive. If you take my stuff without linking to it, mentioning where it is from, getting my permission, and not even using my name as the author, you are stealing my property. As a writer, I find this pretty upsetting.

Since some of you feel frisky enough to continue stealing my work, I have this to say:


"I have been working as an online professional writer and publisher for a long time. Please enjoy all my web content, link to my web sites and my blog, and hook up with me on myspace.com. If you want to use something I've written without linking to it and you really want the entire thing, I might be inclined to offer limited rights to you to use it on your blog or web site or elesewhere, for modest compensation (or maybe even for free in some cases). All I ask is that if you want to do more than link to my work, ASK MY PERMISSION, FIRST and then credit me properly on your site. You can link or send any of these blog posts appropriately through this blog.

The content I create from my own brain is unique to me, and it is very valuable to me. That's why I spent the time, effort and money to protect it with a copyright. If you aren't sure what a copyright is, read on:

A copyright helps people protect their (intellectual) property (the things they personally create). If you see a copyright notice and/or the letter "C" in a little circle that means it is protected by copyright law. You can't legally use it unless you get permission from the person who owns the copyright. If you copy photos, text or anything else off my online sites or any other with a copyright notice, you are stealing it. Please let others know about copyrights and help make the net a great place for everyone to be. Thank you. Alison Blackman Dunham aka. Advice Sister Alison"


copyright © 2007 all rights reserved by Alison Blackman Dunham of THE ADVICE SISTERS® The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No portion of this content including illustrations, may be copied or used in any without written permission of THE ADVICE SISTERS. E-Mail: advicesisters(at)advicesisters(dot)net