Surely this isn't legal...

[remixor]

But there is something else I'm not sure what it is but must cost money as I think Virgin tried to do it. So no one could use the word virgin except them. Fucken wankers imagine if you were in the playground at school and you said 'hey **** is a virgin', you could be sued by them. As if you can own a word for use by you only.Ã,  Ã, I think that might of been a bit of bullshit, but anyway.

Er, no, it doesn't work like that.  They can't sue you for using a standard word just because it's their name.  They registered the trademark so that other companies can't be named "Virgin."

[Timosity]

Er, no, it doesn't work like that.  They can't sue you for using a standard word just because it's their name.  They registered the trademark so that other companies can't be named "Virgin."

No, it wasn't just a trade mark, they tried to go a step further but I don't think they pulled it off. But it wasn't like the example I gave, that was a joke, but I can't really back up this rumour and I don't know in what uses they wanted ownership of the word.

[Las Naranjas]

I'd say this discussion was Fair and Balanced, but I can't afford it.

[juncmodule]

but as far as I know, you don't physically register or pay for copyrights

Although as far as I know you are correct, perhaps as far as international copyright goes, there is a catch.

Court. You have to prove that you created the material you are trying to protect. In America, and I'm sure it would work in any other country, there is a little trick to do just that. Mail it to yourself, and keep the unopened letter. This is a way for poor writers to have a legal proof of their copyright (well, the date) and as far as I know has been used for decades.

You are however absolutely correct regarding the "once you create it you own it" theory.

The "virgin" thing I believe is a matter of trademark, not copyright. I don't believe you can copyright a word, or even phrase. I'm not too clear on what the seperations between what a slogan mark, trade mark, copyright, etc. are.

later,
-junc

[..]

I read a story once about Posh spice trying to sue this football club whos nickname is the Posh. .

[Fuzzpilz]

I don't like to ruin Oranges' fun, but in case you missed it when it was in the news, here is one link for what he's talking about.

The Virgin thing very faintly rings a bell, but I can't think of anything either.

Edit: and in music, Lyrics & Music are seperate copyrights

And recordings of the music are yet another pair of shoes. For example. grabbing a CD off the top of one of my stacks at random - "Hail to the Thief" by Radiohead, as it happens - I can see that the recording's copyright is owned by EMI (Parlophone), while the publisher (who often owns the copyrights relating to the songs themselves and their lyrics) is Warner Chappell, which belongs to Time Warner.
The recording industry giants tend to be music publishers as well - EMI claims to be "the world's largest music publisher in terms of copyrights owned, controlled or administered".

[LGM]

haha.. Al Franken is funny.

[Ashen]

there is a little trick to do just that. Mail it to yourself, and keep the unopened letter. This is a way for poor writers to have a legal proof of their copyright (well, the date) and as far as I know has been used for decades.

As I understand this, it has to be sent registered delivery, so there's an official, accurate measure of when it was sent. And, as you said, it's a way for POOR writers to get copyright, implying there is expense.  Like Timosity said, I think you do get immediate copyright on anything you create, but you have to register - and pay - if you want to be able to PROVE you did it first.

[Rave]

Remixor, this is a warrent for your arrest. You used content from my post which was original to me and automatically copyrighted under law, without my verbal or written approval. *slaps handcuffs on him* You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do will be twisted to give you a longer sentance. You have the right to an attorny. If you cannot afford one, well...too bad.

Well hey, that sounds like a great law.....huh? Whats that? *ballif hands Rave' a note*  WHAT?!? I'm being sued by juncmodule for using his quote without his permission! But....but......." *gets thrown in the cell with remixor*