# The copyright is over, we are free!! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 1, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545 "2006-02-01T18:56:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/1 "2006-02-01T18:56:23Z")
The message at the bottom of each page says “copyright 1984-2005”. It’s 2006 we are now free to reprint our posts willy-nilly around the internet! Yippee! or maybe it just needs to be updated? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/2 "2006-02-01T18:58:10Z")
The message at the bottom of this page: Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7 Copyright ©2000 - 2006, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/3 "2006-02-01T19:01:52Z")
That’s merely the year the copyright is effective from. It is NOT an expiration. In any case, you’ve always been free to reprint your own posts. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/4 "2006-02-01T19:03:33Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > The message at the bottom of this page: > > Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7 > Copyright ©2000 - 2006, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. That’s the software copyright. The content of the Board is a separate copyright: “Contents of the Straight Dope Message Board and the Straight Dope Web site are copyright 1984-2005 by the Chicago Reader, Inc.” ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/5 "2006-02-01T19:07:58Z")
Yeah, I’m dumb. It’s okay though, because I have a nice rack. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/6 "2006-02-01T19:12:22Z")
Cite? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/7 "2006-02-01T19:13:44Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > Yeah, I’m dumb. It’s okay though, because I have a nice rack. Wait, you’re not a guy? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/8 "2006-02-01T19:19:16Z")
… no? ---
**Author:** ![Eliphalet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eliphalet/32/9563_2.png) [@Eliphalet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eliphalet)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/9 "2006-02-01T19:19:47Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > Yeah, I’m dumb. It’s okay though, because I have a nice rack. Being The SDMB, ya know it’s coming… Cite? Eli ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/10 "2006-02-01T19:21:41Z")
Oh, poor Eliphalet! A bit too late to be first. [Boobies](http://www.globaladrenaline.com/hbs/images/QN---Blue-Footed-Boobie-1.jpg). You guys sure are a clever bunch. I never would’ve expected cite-demanding posts after such a claim as the one I made… never in a million years. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/11 "2006-02-01T19:28:27Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > In any case, you’ve always been free to reprint your own posts. After re-reading my post I was hoping no one would call me on that. It was a small hope. > [@](#): > > That’s merely the year the copyright is effective from. It is NOT an expiration. If it is no longer effctive wouldn’t be expired? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/12 "2006-02-01T19:29:27Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > [Boobies](http://www.globaladrenaline.com/hbs/images/QN---Blue-Footed-Boobie-1.jpg) Fap fap fah fuh uh… fap… Fap. Frak. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/13 "2006-02-01T19:32:32Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > If it is no longer effctive wouldn’t be expired? No, I said “effective _from_”. Think of it as the start date. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/14 "2006-02-01T19:38:01Z")
If it’s a start date, what’s the meaning of the range? I guess I can look at my own “start date.” I would normally express it as “May 16, 1969.” I can now say 1969-2006. I began in that span of time It’s true, then: Today is the first day of the rest of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/15 "2006-02-01T19:57:17Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > If it’s a start date, what’s the meaning of the range? The range covers the start date of the earliest copyrightable portion of the work through to the most recent. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/16 "2006-02-02T03:12:11Z")
I thought Jerry did it and Jerry musta thought I did it. So there. TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/17 "2006-02-02T03:14:35Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > Oh, poor Eliphalet! A bit too late to be first. > > [Boobies](http://www.globaladrenaline.com/hbs/images/QN---Blue-Footed-Boobie-1.jpg). > > You guys sure are a clever bunch. I never would’ve expected cite-demanding posts after such a claim as the one I made… never in a million years. 😛 I believe you said you had a “nice rack.” So is your rack nicer than [this](http://www.lasteelcraft.com/bike_images/HDBR-BIKE-RACK.jpg)[?](http://www.biggerbras.com/productpics/avi/avi2460.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/18 "2006-02-02T03:41:10Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > Oh, poor Eliphalet! A bit too late to be first. > > [Boobies](http://www.globaladrenaline.com/hbs/images/QN---Blue-Footed-Boobie-1.jpg). O RLY? Well then, check these hooters: \_ **/ \_** / {0,0} {o,0} |)**) |)**) -"-"----"-"- ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/19 "2006-02-02T03:50:02Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Cite? 😃 I’ve met her in real life. I can vouch. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545/20 "2006-02-02T04:10:50Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > O RLY? NO WAI! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-copyright-is-over-we-are-free/342545.md?page=2)