Part 1 Copyrights
Electronic Copyrights and Pitfalls in the Digital Domain		Joint works are defined by the Copyright Act as “work prepared by two or more authors with the intention that their contributions be merged into inseparable or interdependent parts of a unitary whole”. Whew! I can think of nowhere in the Copyright Laws where there is more need for clarification than in this definition, especially in light of recent technological electronic advances and trends that might be characterized as anti-artist. For paleontologists, who collaborate frequently with ease and understanding, the meaning of “joint works” is clear. But, for dinosaur artists and their clients, computer technology has put the manipulation and alteration of images within easy reach of almost any art user, thereby opening a whole Pandora’s box of ambiguous situations which have not been satisfactorily resolved in the courts yet. Getting a good contract will help, but the copyright laws are an evolving area and some reform and test decisions are necessary to keep up with modern advances and how they affect creative people. One is well advised to seek legal counsel where there is a joint ownership issue.
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