Copyrighting articles is bad for your business!

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Categories: Marketing Small Business

keep outI was out walking the other morning in the bitter cold but beautiful sunshine and I read the notice that The National Trust have at the Devil’s Punchbowl.

“The National Trust welcomes responsible dog owners”

Isn’t this better than a typical local council “Dogs Must Be Kept on the Lead AT ALL TIMES”?

Something that I learnt very early on was to make sure I always put out the welcome mats as opposed to the “You are NOT allowed” signs.  And a great example of this is the good, old copyright statement that you often see on articles and newsletters.

“Nothing is to be copied, reproduced or photocopied without the author’s express permission”.

Mmmm – well I don’t know about you but I would love it if more people copied, reproduced and photocopied my information.  The more people who could read my articles and have access to the information that I share with my newsletter subscribers and blog readers the better.

My attitude is “Please feel free to reproduce anything that you find on this blog – all I ask is that you credit the article to my name and list my website address.”

So check your copyright statement at the bottom of your articles– do you have a welcome mat or a “Keep Out” notice?

Got a comment you would like to make? Add your thoughts, ideas or questions below.

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2 Responses to “Copyrighting articles is bad for your business!”

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  1. mike morrison
    December 17, 2009 at 11:52 am

    Is is copyright or copyright free – or is there a third option?

    On my site I copyright all of my articles, but give permission or reproduce providing they credit the source. You say that this is your ‘attitude’ but the words do not say this – so how will people know?

    The one thing I have learn on twitter and other places is to copy and support other peoples materials and they will (usually) do the same – promote your work.
    Mike

    [Reply]

  2. Jonathan
    December 17, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    I see the comparison that you are drawing and agree with the second sentiment that you make.

    However with the first one, the command is quite clear – keep your dog on the lead, the second is not so and ‘fluffy’ other than saying you can bring your dog here. If you ask any dog owner, they will consider themselves behaving responsibly, as it is so subjective.

    Without being overly pedantic, if you want dogs on leads (or at least the best chance of it) you have to use instructional language. It could however, have been written in a less patronising manner.

    [Reply]

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