Copyright Laws

[Master Jmd 89]

On my website, I am thinking of adding a Coinage dictionary. Would it be breaching the copyright laws if I was to copy a definition of a coinage term but reword some of it?

Example:

The royalmint has "Ae - Abbreviation for the Latin Aes (bronze), used for coins made in brass, bronze and other copper alloys."

I put "Ae - Abbreviation for the Latin Aes, used for coins struck in brass, bronze and other copper alloys."

Would I need to change more of this?

Thanks

Edited March 26, 2005 by Master Jmd

[Geordie582 18]

I wouldn't think the Royal mint has a copyright on the definition of symbols of any type

[Chris Perkins 228]

No, I wouldn't think they'd be too fussed.

Why don't you make notes, learn the definitions yourself and then simply put them in your own words. No one can ever have a problem with that.

[Emperor Oli 0]

Or you could copy it word for word and just credit the Royal Mint.

[mint_mark 9]

Or you could copy it word for word and just credit the Royal Mint.

Giving credit doesn't mean you're allowed to copy! Usually you would give credit after gaining permission...

I think Chris and Geordie are right... the definition is common knowledge and you can just read several definitions, understand the meaning and then write it in your own words. In your own words is important... then you really haven't copied anyone else's. Copyright protects an expression but not an idea itself, so you are always free to write your own original expression of an idea.

You might be interested to know that the definition you quoted from the royal mint is only one word different to the definition in Coin Yearbook 2005...

[Peter 615]

I don't think the Royal Mint or any one else!!! will go looking for JMD.

Publish and be damned

[Master Jmd 89]

So would I be safer to email the Royal Mint asking for permission to do what I am doing?

[Geordie582 18]

I think this is a storm in a teacup! Many learned tomes state that " the sun ratiates", but could hardly claim copyright over Facts!

[mint_mark 9]

So would I be safer to email the Royal Mint asking for permission to do what I am doing?

The way to be safe is to be sure that what you end up with is entirely your own work. The way to achieve that is to read enough from lots of places so that you understand what "Æ" means yourself, and then write your own definition from scratch. That's what Chris suggested and he is right!

Your first post suggested changing their definition "enough". That is not safe! At best you end up with a derived work and they retain copyright on their parts of it.

It's all theoretical anyway... this definition is so small that any two original examples are likely to be quite similar anyway... but for larger pieces of work the principles apply.

Also, what has the definition of "Æ" got to do with the royal mint in particular? There are loads of places that define it and it is common knowledge... maybe when you need a definition for "collectable five pound crown" you can go and ask them... I don't know what one is!

[Master Jmd 89]

Also, what has the definition of "Æ" got to do with the royal mint in particular? There are loads of places that define it and it is common knowledge... maybe when you need a definition for "collectable five pound crown" you can go and ask them... I don't know what one is!

Ages ago, I printed off the entire Royal Mint's coinage dictionary for reference. There are many other places I could get information from, but putting it all in alphabetical order would be a massive task so sticking to one or two sources would not get to confusing...

[Chris Perkins 228]

Well why don't you use mine:

http://www.predecimal.com/dictionary.htm

Give me lots of nice links and full credit and it's all yours.

[mint_mark 9]

Well why don't you use mine:

There's no definition for collectable five pound crown!

Actually... I was looking at glossaries recently because I didn't know the proper name for the machines that actually mint coins and none of the glossaries had an entry for it.

Reading on the royal mint website I discovered that the term I was looking for is "coining press". So there's a new entry for you...

[Emperor Oli 0]

Coincraft's is also quite comprehensive.

[Master Jmd 89]

Well why don't you use mine:

http://www.predecimal.com/dictionary.htm

Give me lots of nice links and full credit and it's all yours.

Ok, will do