Protecting Copyrights Part 5
Involved in Litigation
Let's look at an analogy, a hypothetical situation. Suppose someone came in off the street, walked into our workroom back there, and said he wanted to take home one of GSO's personal computers. We would say, "No, you can't do that." If he persisted, we might ask for outside help.
Would we then ask if we were undertaking punitive action by saying no, inciting a public controversy by asking for help in saying no, or performing an act of government by saying we wanted to restrict who could use the personal computer. Of course not.
We have, over the years, been involved in litigation on matters of labor relations, contract disputes with vendors, and we have defended against some far-fetched suits by individuals who hold us responsible for things that have happened to them that ask for vast sums of money in damages.
No Copyright Police
We never thought of these as punishing our legal adversaries, or governing them, or inciting public controversies.There are no copyright police. Under our copyright system, and the German copyright system, and every copyright system I know of the only way you can say no, when a simple no doesn't work, is to undertake legal action. If you don't take legal action to protect, if you sit on your hands, you will lose your copyrights.
A decision not to take legal action as a last resort against a persistent infringer is a decision to throw away your copyrights. Once they are lost, they are lost forever.
I hope and pray that the infringers of our copyrights stop what they are doing. We have never wanted to be involved in legal proceedings. I wish it could stop tomorrow, and if the copyright infringement stops, it will.
Chairman of the General Service Board
Your Comments
What do you think about Alcoholics Anonymous' efforts to protect its copyrights in Germany? Post your comments on the Forum or send them in an email to BuddyT.
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