Legal questions about story writing.

[Never]

I?m writing a story, nothing new there. However, I'll be posting it on a personal website provided to by my college as I develop, structure, write, and rewrite. As I do so I am planning on letting people who read the story to provide feedback, ask questions or offer comments.

So, I have some questions: Will the college have any claim on my work? If it's on their website is it considered published?
Also, if anyone gives me a great deal of feedback or support I'd be happy to thank them on the website but how do I avoid someone claiming I stole their idea if I request feedback?

I thought about posting this to the author section but I figured as it's more of a legalize type question I had a better chance of getting an answer here.

 

[lavender]

 

[KillerMuffin]

No, the college will not. You own the copyright until you pass it to someone else.

And yes, someone can claim that you stole their ideas if you ask for feedback and act on it. Their feedback is copyrighted by them and so are their ideas. The trick is to incorporate any ideas that you do use in such a way that it's not the original idea or couldn't be pinpointed as the original idea. This shouldn't come up, but if you end up a runaway success like JK Rowling or Stephen King, it will come up in the future. US copyright laws are specific.

To avoid that know what kind of feedback you're looking for and ask leading questions. Was my use of the character's hat effective in the scene where she slammed his fingers in the door? How so? Do not ask someone if they have an idea about how to proceed with a story when you're stuck. If they give that idea to you and you use it, it's still their idea. You should have the kind of relationship with that person where they won't try to stab you in the back for using that idea.

When someone else or a bunch of someone elses help you write a story, you can conceivably have copyright problems. It's a lot like plagiarism in college which I'm sure you've or will hear all about.

I'm sure lavy knows tons more about this than I do, though.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

A few quick corrections...If I may...

There's one simple flaw here (sorry to contradict you KM, but...), unless copyright law has recently changed. The things is this: Ideas are not copyrightable, or protected by copyright law. Therefore, if someone says, write a story about vampires killing...I dunno, a woman in black, and you do it, they ahve no claim to your work. basically, there are no new ideas, just new interpretations, and you've always got the right to your interpretation. Secondly, make sure that the college realizes that you intend to publish the work again, or to maintain the copyright, just to entirely safe. Have whoever is in charge of this project or website, tell you, in writing if possible, but perhaps verbally, if you have a witness, and it will stand up in court in your particular area. Have it secured before allowing them to use it.
In terms of you using others ideas, it won't matter except for, in terms of college (plagarism is obviously a serious crime there) and if moneys were recieved for the use of the work. Then, compensatin must be rendered if you're found in violation. Otherwise, all anyone can do is say, stop using that. And that's it. not even a misdemeanor, really. The really important thing is: don't use thier words. That's the noose.